The Cycle of a Civil Rights Movement

Historic Civil Rights Movement

The history of civil rights movement in the United States is a testament to the power of collective action and the determination to achieve justice and equality. The civil rights protests of the 1960s, including the pivotal Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, culminated in major legislative victories such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices and segregation. These achievements were hard-fought, emerging from a backdrop of persistent governmental neglect of the petitions and peaceful pleas for justice.

The Vietnam War protests from the late 1960s to the early 1970s also demonstrated the influence of widespread public dissent. These protests influenced public opinion and political pressure, eventually leading to the U.S. pulling out of Vietnam in 1973 and the subsequent end of the draft.

The Los Angeles Riots on April 29, 1992, triggered by the acquittal of police officers videotaped beating Rodney King, highlighted systemic racial inequalities and police brutality, leading to police reforms and changes in how police are prosecuted for misconduct.

More recently, the George Floyd protests, which began on May 26, 2020, have become the largest in U.S. history, reigniting a global movement against racial injustice and police brutality. The immediate aftermath saw Minneapolis banning chokeholds and the re-evaluation of police use of force nationwide.

Each of these protests not only marks a critical moment of social upheaval but also led to significant legislative and societal changes, reflecting the power of collective action in shaping public policy and societal norms.

Evolving Protest Tactics of The Civil Rights Movement

Over the years, protests have evolved into what is seen today. In Martin Luther’s time, his movement started with marching down the street to make a point. Now, rather than peacefully marching, protesters sit down in the middle of roads and block traffic to make their point. This shift in protest tactics underscores the evolving nature of how people demand attention and action from those in power.

The Cycle of Neglect and Response

With the laws stating that a person can petition their government to achieve humanitarian fairness and respect for individual life, the civil rights movement was initially ignored by representatives when petitions were filed. This negligence grew into a modern movement that changed American culture. Now, no matter the cause, going out and standing in the streets showing support for activism is being viewed negatively.

As cycles turn, much like a child being insulted daily and eventually believing it, negative accusations towards protesters and advocates allowed for justified causes to get hi-jacked and are turned into riots.

Cultural Climax and Decline

The moment of climax from the 1960s movement was in the 1990s, where in some areas, the impact is still felt today. However, that pivotal time brought a cultural decline, from the music being promoted to new medical labels to call each other, and the increase of self-help programs that seem to do more damage than good. When the incidents in Ferguson Missouri, Eric Garner, and later George Floyd happened, it was as if the civil rights movement started all over again, and everyone was confused and forgot how to properly respond.

Looking Both Ways before Crossing

As I stand born on the cusp, I see both directions. You can look at Statista records to see the dip on the chart, or you can look around in your communities and see for yourself, but there aren’t a lot of males between 45-49 years old. Part of it is due to us following negligence that was put as our guide, since the 90’s generation was murdering each other over foolish reasons, often for only a greedy motives while shouting slogans such as a “money over everything (MOE).”

However, these modern protests did spark a flame in teenagers and young adults, and they also reignited a flame in the older generation. Some who didn’t even participate in their generation’s civil right movements are now protesting current times. This adds to neglectful responses based solely on what they feel while ignoring the more severe threat of violations done by judges and representatives.

Rather than Americans mentally progressing as in the 1800s, it’s as if people started back in the early 1900s, but with different technology. These actions, or lack of action, will cause more harm in the future than what happened in the 1990s. A negative cycle is starting when we have a chance to learn from history and not add more restrictions that can strangle a man and be perceived as less humane than if you were to wrap your hands around the neck of another person and choke them to death.

The Challenge and Awareness for a Civil Rights Movement

Getting a person to do the research and seek the underlying factors of a situation seems to only happen after a person has been personally affected. Since, at one time I also was in denial until it hit me full force. Even then, most people find it easier to fold their hands and lower their chins when facing unlawful, but legal opposition. I’m not saying if a person is guilty, that they shouldn’t humble themselves to learn from their mistakes, but some people are innocent and being forced by judicial domestic terrorists to take a plea offer because it’s easier than fighting a bureaucracy of criminals who have a predetermined memorized script that automatically deems everyone guilty. Where there are judicial staff reciting biased standards that are taught as acceptable conduct, from all the years of silence by confused citizens.

Importance of Overcoming Emotional Peers

Today’s youth often lean heavily on a tight-knit group of friends and online advice, steering clear of traditional guidance. This trend is rooted in an educational culture promoting self-reliance, suggesting that students are the best judges of their own future. This has led to a situation where many young adults challenge older generations’ advice, creating widespread confusion. It’s ironic that while they debate global issues, they overlook personal flaws like greed or laziness and can become defensive when confronted with uncomfortable truths. This resistance to external insights reflects a deeper struggle with accepting criticism and engaging in self-reflection.

With this article only touching the surface of the evolutionary cycle of advocacy, I hope you can see the overall and underlying factors that American culture faces these days. While college students protest on the lawns of universities against a war overseas, we have civil rights violations happening on American soil. I urge you not to run from this because a justified movement doesn’t start because of bombs exploding overseas; that usually means we are already in a war when that is the situation.

A Justified Civil Rights Movement

A movement begins when local and national injustices are ignored, and petitions are dismissed. For example, when someone campaigning to become a state governor faces unlawful attacks by those who misuse their authority. Similarly, when individuals working to strengthen church establishments and assert the separation from state influence face threats like vehicular aggression or physical assault as tactics to intimidate and suppress. These acts of aggression ignite a justified movement, rallying people to demand accountability and protect their rights. Such movements are not just responses to individual grievances but a collective call to action against systemic abuses of power.

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