Introduction
Despite the opposition throughout history to passing the Civil Rights Acts, the Civil Rights Movement and social activists helped pave the way for African Americans to achieve equality and rights, ultimately improving their social conditions and promoting equality and racial growth. Political and civil rights typically work collaboratively. These kinds of freedom and liberties are protected by a constitution and designed to defend citizens, individually and collectively, against improper activities by the government, other people, and for-profit businesses.
Additionally, civil rights guarantee that individuals do not encounter prejudice or oppression when participating in the state’s political and social life. Civil rights include safeguarding each person’s safety and physical integrity and defending them against discrimination based on their sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin, gender, or age. The principal objective of the civil rights movement is to pressure public and corporate institutions to acknowledge the rights of the people.
Introduction and Historical Explanation
Following the Civil War, the American Congress swiftly established several pieces of legislation granting black people certain civil rights. The statutes were put in place to safeguard America’s former slaves. However, some influential politicians prohibited the formerly enslaved Black people from exercising the constitutionally guaranteed rights (Cain, 2018). When formerly enslaved Black people learned about their rights, they began to fight for parity with American whites.
The civil rights movement gained traction and support from some of America’s most influential politicians, including John F. Kennedy (Cain, 2018). The actions were strengthened by the ideological cold war’s demand for equal treatment for blacks and whites. The civil rights movement originated in the United States of America and extended throughout the world.
All people born in the United States, regardless of race, are citizens of the United States, according to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which expanded the rights of formerly enslaved people. Although this historical event aided the beginning of African Americans’ integration into society and protected their civil rights, it did not adequately safeguard their political rights. This historical turning point marked the start of the civil rights movement, one of the most impactful times in American history. It was confronted with racism, oppression, violence, segregation, and intimidation. A movement led by the African American community focused on voting rights and equal access to public education to eradicate racial discrimination and segregation and achieve equality of rights.
Psychological Perspective
It is vital for the leaders of such movements to make sure that they persuade members with topics that match their psychological views so that people will be enticed to engage in any form of social activity. Frequently, those who found a movement or group do so because they believe certain cognitive notions or social truths to be accurate and pertinent to their situation. These include emotional components like dissatisfaction with one’s wants (Bloom, 2019).
When people band together to join a civil rights movement, an individual’s ability to think individually is lost and the activity develops its psychological structure. The individual members’ conscious actions replace the Movement’s unconscious actions. This is one of the reasons it can accomplish things that a person might find impossible.
Social movements have been developed to defend or uphold the historical expectations of the populace. The civil rights movement has persisted on this foundation to fight for what people believe to be correct and should be granted. These people feel in their inner conscience that they would never be able to realize such ambitions by waiting, either because they are denied, or their fulfillment is postponed. As a result, they band together and start a series of events that could cause death and damage (Bloom, 2019). Individuals who participate in social movements can defend themselves by cooperating with others. As a result, individuals band together to create a potent force that advocates for their interests collectively after realizing that their efforts to achieve specific rights can only succeed in collaboration.
A social movement for civil rights has distinct goals and purposes. The first goal of the civil rights movement in America was to uphold the freedom and rights of black people who had previously been enslaved (Smith & Who, 2020). The civil rights movement’s scope has grown to cover various problems regarding individual rights.
One may argue that the civil rights movement’s reach has expanded along with the number of human rights and freedoms. One sign of social disintegration is the struggle for rights and liberties through civil rights movements (Smith & Who, 2020). Constant and prospective violations of certain rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution support the Movement’s existence.
The government bestows civil rights, but regrettably, it is also the government that infringes upon them. The goal of society’s members is to have as much freedom as possible. The civil rights movement will use every means to defend the rights and liberties once they have been secured. Any attempt to stifle the Movement’s operations will likely spark civil unrest.
Additionally, the civil rights movement exists to promote specific societal transformations. Members of society frequently express dissatisfaction with how things are done on a social level. More specifically, the Movement consistently campaigns to include particular social realities as a component of civil rights and freedoms (Smith & Who, 2020). It aims to put pressure on the government to make it legal for certain socially acceptable behaviors.
For instance, pro-abortion activists in the United States of America battled for the state’s abortion laws to be changed for many years. Abortion used to be prohibited in the United States, but because of pressure from civil rights campaigners, it is now permitted there. There have been instances of this elsewhere in the world. There have been instances of this elsewhere worldwide (Smith & Who, 2020). The Movement has also progressed in nations where the Constitution recognizes LGBT rights.
These depict societal changes that are occurring. Therefore, it is appropriate to see the civil rights movement as a force for social system transformation. It aims to compel society to acknowledge and accept initially deemed anti-social behaviors (Smith & Who, 2020). The anti-social behaviors include, among others, lesbianism, gay relationships, and abortion (Francis, 2019).
People have clamored for rights and freedoms to engage in acts that the government may not sanction. Most of the time, pressure from rights organizations forces the government to include such rights and liberties in the Constitution. Communities and different social groups frequently have ideals, intentions, and desires that differ significantly from individual members (Francis, 2019). Those who must prepare to meet these societal or communal expectations are consistently viewed as social outcasts.
The Movement is further divided into minor activities with various philosophies, ideals, and purposes. Social crises, emotional experiences shared by movement participants, sentiments of shared goals, the need to act, and a perceptual shift in values and vision all influence the Movement’s conduct (Francis, 2019). There are always numerous people in society who may be opposed to particular social systems. Some of these people choose to put up with the procedures or rebel against them covertly out of fear of social rejection.
These people are viewed as being represented by the civil rights movement. They stand up for those not heard in society and fight against harsh or undesirable regimes. For instance, it is claimed that women do not participate in society’s political processes. The voiceless women push for inclusion in political processes through women’s rights activists. Another illustration is when the majority ignores the minority. Minorities strive for inclusion in social structures through civil rights activists and other movements.
Research Evaluation
It is significant to highlight that the civil rights movement operates more effectively and efficiently than ever. The acts of the government to fundamental human rights are primarily what the civil rights movement is worried about. The impact of the civil rights movement’s actions heavily depends on how the government upholds or abridges these fundamental rights.
Compared to earlier centuries, the Movement’s activity is anticipated to be particularly effective in the 21st century due to the advancement of information technology (Bloom, 2019). The print, radio, and television media have all been part of the civil rights fight in the twenty-first century (Bloom, 2019). These media monitor governmental and non-governmental groups’ compliance with human rights and freedoms.
This has the notion that civil rights organizations will foil any attempt by the government to violate any right or freedom. Additionally, it is simple to persuade people to resist any unlawful behavior. In the twenty-first century, organizing the public using the available media to participate in protests and rallies against any unwelcome system practices in society will be simple.
It is noteworthy that since its inception, the civil rights movement has successfully improved people’s lives. Due to the efforts of those involved in the civil rights movements, many people now enjoy rights and freedoms that they otherwise would not have (Bloom, 2019). The accomplishments were made when communication among the campaigners was exceedingly slow, and coordination could have been more effective.
The civil rights activists of the twenty-first century are most likely to have adequate checks and balances on the actions of public and private groups that might infringe on freedom and human rights (Bloom, 2019). The civil rights movement’s activities are expected to rise due to numerous demands and pressure placed on various governments to legislate or formally acknowledge some social interactions as rights and freedoms. There are currently calls for the legalization of gay marriage, abortion, and the abolition of the death penalty as a form of physical punishment, among other things.
All of these will put further strain on any current authorities. Many individuals’ ability to learn more about their civic rights has been made possible by the current information technology, which is another crucial realization (Cain, 2018). In the past, most people relied on a few persons to disclose their constitutional rights. Therefore, the more individuals are aware of their rights, the better equipped they are to recognize the shortcomings of government actions that directly affect those rights. In a nutshell, the efforts of civil rights activists are expected to increase with the current development of information systems and the fact that many people are aware of their rights. Along with this, the government will likely violate some of these freedoms and rights to further its goals.
Following the end of the Civil War, the social and cultural characteristics present in the United States led to racial segregation and inequality. Many African Americans and members of other minority groups opposed the levels of racism and injustice that were in place. The famed Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s resulted from these struggles (Levy, 2019). Within a short period, this instability would spread throughout the nation. The result was a changed social environment marked by new legislation designed to address the problem of segregation.
Many historians claim that African American journalists gave up their resources to aid the Civil Rights Movement (Levy, 2019). Inequality and segregation were two of the fundamental problems that had plagued the American multiracial society for many years, and they intended to spread the best practices and ideas that could alleviate these issues (Levy, 2019). Most of these journalists took heroic actions to accomplish their objectives of permanently altering the nation’s history. Throughout this time, they concentrated on various tactics and methods.
Sociological Perspective
Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, several forces and occasions played a significant role as sources of inspiration. The first issue was racial isolation created by the lines created in America. Numerous problems, including inequality and a lack of chances, were brought on by this problem. The rising influence and media use gave rise to the second driving force. The turmoil in the United States has given people a chance to talk about the difficulties that many minority groups face in this country.
Journalists were inspired to support the cause and enhance the lives of many nation inhabitants through the broad civil rights movement. Journalists would convey the needs of the people and the main issues affecting them by covering the unfolding civil rights turmoil. The larger society would understand the importance of defending each citizen’s right to independence and liberty. Journalists employed various strategies, including photography, newspapers, and television, to accomplish their goals. This coverage informed more people about the ongoing civil rights agenda (Levy, 2019). The police lynched and tortured numerous journalists. They also received brutal treatment from a variety of Southerners.
As a result, several groups and people expressed more sympathy due to the coverage. Many people also respected the reality that racial segregation and discrimination persisted in every neighborhood. Understandably, many activists exploited the news media to further their causes during this time (Smith & Who, 2020). They accomplished this by publicizing the crimes against them and their ethnic groupings (Smith & Who, 2020).
Additionally, they gained the support of other societies, which made it simpler for them to fight for their causes and human rights. New laws and regulations were consequently put into place to address the majority of the issues brought up by these campaigners. Most Civil Rights Movement activists employed varied media methods to accomplish their goals. Press, television, and other mainstream media coverage were a few. They were created to connect with more American citizens.
Additionally, this action would make it simpler for other political parties and government organizations to back the complaints raised by these activists. Television had a positive impact on how the Civil Rights Movement was covered. This was true because viewers could follow footage of various protests and the experiences of civil rights campaigners. More households now own televisions, making it easy for people in multiple locations to monitor the Movement’s developments.
The Civil Rights Movement was crucial to the black press. This was because it concentrated on some occasions connected to this upheaval. Several black newspaper reporters described the discrimination and harassment they experienced then (Cain, 2018). They covered marches, speeches, and disturbances. There were also reports of sermons by African American leaders like Martin Luther King. The mainstream media has seen similar themes to those targeted by the black press.
The black press and the hiring policies at major newspapers looked to be impacted by mainstream media coverage of the Civil Rights Movement. Some examples can illustrate this fact. The first is that after many years of being invisible, the black press has emerged as a solid and noticeable force.
Second, the black press changed as a result of the mainstream media. This is because black and white journalists were eager to work together and cover this revolution. This development led to a scenario where white-owned media outlets enticed black reporters to leave. This implies a significant change in the personnel of major newspapers (Cain, 2018). Black and white journalists collaborated thanks to a revised hiring strategy.
Several factors can affect a journalist’s motivation. These elements include capitalism, societal pressure, ethical values, and conventional morals. Other features include government actions and policies. Traditional morals were one of the initial factors that many journalists were influenced by during the Civil Rights Movement. For many years, racism was a serious problem and a long-standing practice that went against moral standards (Francis, 2019). Reporters were motivated to join the campaign as a result of this issue.
Journalists were greatly influenced by values like justice and equality to support the ongoing Civil Rights Movement. Reporters were driven and urged to focus on this issue because it seemed to touch many people through social pressure. Most of the laws put into place in this nation successfully addressed the major problems that the multiracial society in America was experiencing. This level of participation forced the government to create superior laws to assist and empower more Americans. People from minority groups were compelled to perform low-wage labor due to the country’s current wave of capitalism.
Violence and Community
For its examination and description of the critical concerns affecting the United States for many years, the Kerner Commission Report has received extensive study and analysis. This assertion claimed that the nation had put ineffective initiatives into place that had failed to solve the majority of the issues impacting many Americans. As a result, the country continued to track several instances that increased hostilities and tensions. The information mentioned above has catalyzed some of the difficulties experienced by the nation, including underemployment, police brutality, and unequal social assistance.
In particular, the paper focused on the problem of journalism during the Civil Rights Movement. It was discovered that, at the time, the media provided inaccurate information (Newman, 2022). Throughout this time, exaggeration, sensationalism, and distortion were reported. Numerous media outlets should have looked into the serious issues caused by the nation’s civil unrest. Some media outlets did not hire people from diverse racial backgrounds. The Kerner Commission found that these irregularities impacted the success of many journalists’ methods. The good news was that more people and organizations in the nation were aware of the horrors, experiences, and events that took place at the time.
People protested because racism and prejudice harmed every part of their lives, and the community was the only thing that could shield them from or counteract White brutality. More significantly, the leaders did not start many of the more reported protests or any of the other events. Additionally, the strategy helps us comprehend the role of the White activists because they defied their racially oppressed upbringings by opposing the entrenched system of segregation. The Movement included countless brave individual deeds in the name of freedom.
The success of the Civil Rights Movement can be ascribed to the Black community’s adoption of self-defense tactics and the exposure of White violence directed at individuals engaging in peaceful civil disobedience acts (Bloom, 2019). A bottom-up perspective helps research the Movement since it helps put the struggle in the context of the Black community while focusing on individual experiences. So, it was clear that the fight affected a large swath of American society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the selflessness and commitment of numerous journalists and activists are responsible for the Civil Rights Movement’s triumph in the 1960s. Most of the events and hardships experienced by African Americans became more widely known thanks to the usage of new media and television channels. These people exerted more effort to succeed despite obstacles like police violence. The Kerner Commission’s report included insightful observations and innovative concepts that might change how the nation’s journalism is practiced. Including news journalists from minority groups can change the current environment and advance racial harmony in the United States.
The civil rights movement’s followers are passionate about ensuring that the government upholds certain fundamental freedoms and rights for people. Many people have used the campaign to achieve certain rights and freedoms, such as the legalization of homosexual marriage and abortion in the United States of America and other countries. The civil rights movement is a social change agent from a sociological perspective. It is one of the things that has caused society to shift so that what was once thought of as anti-social acts are now considered commonplace in some areas of society. These include but are not limited to, homosexual marriage and abortion. The capabilities of the current rise in information technology can have consequences for the civil rights movement’s operations. This has made it possible for the Movement’s participants to monitor any government violations of human rights through a variety of media and to act swiftly to stop such violations.
References
Bloom, J. M. (2019). Class, race, and the civil rights movement. Indiana University Press.
Cain, P. A. (2018). Rainbow rights: The role of lawyers and courts in the lesbian and gay civil rights movement. Routledge.
Francis, M. M. (2019). The price of civil rights: Black lives, white funding, and movement capture. Law & Society Review, 53(1), 275-309. Web.
Levy, P. B. (2019). The Civil Rights Movement: A Reference Guide. ABC-CLIO.
Newman, M. (2022). The civil rights movement. The Civil Rights Movement. Edinburgh University Press.
Smith, S. L., & Who, H. Q. (2020). What Is the Civil Rights Movement? Penguin.