Module 5- Civil Rights and American Identities in the mid-20th Century
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Hudson County Community College *
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3501
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Political Science
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Feb 20, 2024
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The Civil Rights movements of the mid-20th Century
I gave you only a couple of readings on the Civil Rights movement. There is so much more!
I figured most of you are at least vaguely familiar with the history -- and there are plenty of good websites.
So feel free to talk about issues not in the assigned readings.
How did the Civil Rights movement reconfigure our understanding of citizenship and who gets to be called "American"? How did it change democracy?
How should we remember the Civil Rights movement? What is its legacy from the vantage point
of the year 2023?
Our conception of citizenship and who qualifies as a "American" was profoundly altered by the Civil Rights Movement, which mostly occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Until the movement, citizenship and the term "American" were frequently, if not expressly, associated with white people. This idea was contested by the Civil Rights Movement, which promoted equal rights for people of all races and colors.
The movement brought about several changes to democracy. First of all, it paved the way for historic laws like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to be passed. While the latter forbade racial discrimination in voting, the former forbade discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. By guaranteeing that every citizen, regardless of race, had the right to vote and take part in the democratic process, these laws increased the scope of the democratic process. Second, by highlighting the effectiveness of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, the Civil Rights Movement profoundly transformed democracy. It demonstrated how common people may bring about change by speaking out against injustice and advocating for their rights.
Regarding the Civil Rights Movement's legacy, it ought to be recognized as a critical juncture in American history that resulted in profound social and political transformation. Leaders who sacrificed their lives to fight for equality, such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., should be recognized. It should be recognized for its teachings on the value of speaking out against injustice and the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance. It is clear that the Civil Rights Movement's impact is still very much in effect in 2023. The LGBTQ+ rights movement and the Black Lives Matter movement are two examples of the movements for justice and equality that it helped to establish. Our perception of citizenship and democracy is also still influenced by it. But it also reminds us that there is still a long way to go in the struggle for justice and equality, even with the advancements gained.
2. The transformations of political institutions and identities
Let's discuss the women's movement of the 1960s/70s. What were their aims? Did they succeed? How did this movement transform the United States?
What did you enjoy the most about the website "Women in Politics: A Very Short History"? What
did you learn there that you had not thought about before?
I'd also like to closely examine the document by Crystal Eastman and the NOW Statement of Purpose. What do the authors of each of these documents want? How do they make their case?
In what ways are they different? What has changed between 1920 (Eastman) and 1966 (NOW), if
anything?
I also threw in the Port Huron Statement into this section. How does this document articulate and promote a new understanding of democracy for this country? Let's dig into this document.
Known as the second wave of feminism, the women's movement of the 1960s and 1970s sought to question and alter laws and social conventions that were perceived as discriminatory and repressive of women. Equal pay, access to contraception, and the abolition of sexual harassment and domestic abuse were among their objectives. They were effective in a lot of ways. Notable legislative successes were the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act of 1963. For women's rights, the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling was historic. A change in culture was also brought about by the movement, as more women pursued higher education and entered the workforce. I can't contribute what I liked or learnt from a webpage because, as an AI, I don't
have any personal experiences or feelings. I may, however, provide information based on the data that is at hand.
Early in the 20th century, Crystal Eastman's work was centered on promoting women's rights, especially in the workplace. She made the case for safer working conditions and pay equity. These concepts were furthered in the 1966 NOW Statement of Purpose, which demanded complete equality for women in all spheres of life, including politics and society. Students for a Democratic Society members outlined their vision for a more participatory democracy in the 1962 Port Huron Statement. It demanded that individuals participate more actively in decision-
making processes and criticized the political system for being too far from the people it was meant to represent. The documents' variations show how the women's movement has changed
with the times and its objectives. The NOW Statement of Purpose and the Port Huron Statement addressed a wider variety of concerns, reflecting the enlarged reach of the women's movement and the growing political consciousness of the 1960s, while Eastman concentrated on workplace rights.
3. Political resistance to the broadening of democracy
I tried to give you a number of different perspectives on the backlash to civil rights victories. Dig
into some of them. What surprised you? Which article persuaded you? Which readings explained something to you in a new way?
I made the last two articles optional because I figured you already had a lot of reading in this module. But read them if you can! They make for pretty grim reading, but helpful to understanding the resistance to the expansion of rights to all Americans.
I agree with you. There are
various perspectives on the backlash to civil rights victories that offer an understanding of the complexities surrounding this crucial period. For example
Social backlash: Another viewpoint holds that the opposition was a result of prejudiced individuals acting as a social backlash. This could take many different forms, such as discriminatory practices or hate crimes. Another would be economic backlash. According to others, the opposition stemmed from financial worries. Some perceived the increased rights of marginalized groups as a danger to their own financial standing because these groups were also able to access resources, employment opportunities, and education.
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