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Inequality during the Civil Right Movement

Racism results from the idea that human beings can be subdivided into distinct groups based on the perception that one race is superior to the other. Racism in the United States of America existed since the colonial era when African Americans were denied legal and social rights and privileges. Gender discrimination was also imminent. Women were underrepresented in the government and in the formal employment sector. This kind of inequality continued until the 19th century when civil right movements stepped in to fight the vice. Reality stands that the two groups were not supposed to go through the inhuman experiences. Therefore, we need to examine the nature of discrimination and discuss why it was not supposed to exist.

Racial discrimination against the African-Americans began with the time of slavery. The white settlers brought Africans to America to serve as workers and offer cheap labor to the rapidly growing colonies of North America. After the American Revolution, the constitution as enacted in 1787, allowed repossession of slaves as people who were initially offering manual labor and service. The law denied African Americans equal rights from whites Americans. During this time African Americans were viewed as property and were owned just like any other form of asset. For instance, African workers could be branded, raped, whipped and even killed with no legal restrictions.

The racial inequality resulted in splitting up of the families of the slaves and even selling off their children without consent. In some cases, ruthlessness manifested lovingly as a few masters treated slaves as children for whom they had moral responsibility. All these inhuman actions had adverse effects on African Americans as some died and others lived in deplorable conditions. Slaves were forced to work, as an extract from studies by Conyers, (2009, p.250) proves this statement, ‘Now I speak what I know, when I say it is like ‘casting pearls before swine’ to try to persuade a Negro to work.’ from Arkansas slave owner. Slavery ended with the civil war between the years 1861-1865, though the effects are still felt up to date.

The African American had already acquired citizenship status and ought to be legally equally covered just like the white Americans. This effort supports the idea that discrimination against African American was wrong. The American constitution was amended in 14th 1868 which guaranteed equal protection of the law and full rights to all citizens. Two years later, an amendment was done to explicitly specify that all the rights were to be equally applied to all citizens regardless of their color. The struggles of African American could be prevented if a law existed to protect the fundamental rights of the slaves (James, 2002). These laws could protect their rights as human beings and also as workers despite racial differences.

The racial discrimination extended to deprive African American of their civil rights in the late 19th century especially with the inaction of Jim Crow laws. These laws enforced racial segregation in the southern United States. According to Tischauser, 2012, African Americans were regarded as separate human beings and had to have special public facilities. The adversity of the results is currently felt. This law violated the principle of the American constitution that emphasized laws to apply to all Americans regardless of their color equally. Some American civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King unswervingly condemned racial inequality and fought for equal rights for all Americans despite of the race to shape modern America as seen in his speech (King, 1963).

Furthermore, civil right movements engaged in advocating for women to be included in political, economic and social sectors. Women were perceived as subordinate by their male counterparts and were hence subjected to the laws imposed upon them by men. Before the American Revolution, women were viewed as housewives and not be employed. The American society expected them to marry, raise families and take care of their husbands. Women were not even allowed to share some public spaces with men, and hardly, they obtained fair legal trials. Women were denied rights to vote and own property (Schechter, 1982). Society was mainly patriarchic and the burden of women increased especially in situations of singlehood. The few jobs offered to women did not provide working wages.

Gender inequality was hugely present in places of work. Despite little or no wages, female workers were sexually assaulted at workplaces. There exist instances of wife battering, stalking and sex trafficking. Women and girls had no legal protection benefits as those enjoyed by men. The early rape laws protected the property interest that men had in the women belonging to them. For instance, rape by a man with rights over a particular woman was nonsensical. According to historical studies by Schechter, 1982, the law reinforced social ideals that dictated feminine behavior. As a result, the woman’s voice was silenced. All these laws continued intimidating women until the rise of the civil rights movements in the 1960s.

Nevertheless, the effort by the civil activists’ groups raised the status of women. In the 1970s, sexual assaults activists mobilized states to pass laws against marital rape. Besides delays, the laws the vice was criminalized in 1993, in all the 50 states. On the other hand, the nineteenth-century reformers challenged laws that granted husbands the prerogatives to abuse authority by beating their wives. The law described marriage as ‘private and thus outside the purview of legal intrusion’ (Ake & Arnold, 2017). Additionally, women formed movements that addressed specific and general issues such as wife battering. These movements carried civil education to enlighten society about the rights of women.

The fight for gender equality raised attention across America as there was an urgent need to eradicate massive violation of rights against women both in civic, economic and social issues. National Organization for Women is one of the civil movements formed to advocate for women in the United States of America. Founded in 1966, the organization has succeeded to fight for multiple issues to promote feminism. The organization has elevated the status of women and girls in all aspects of economic, social and political life. The action is dealt with from the grassroots level to establish the cause and solve it forever. National Organization for Women has over the years played a significant role to advocate and elevate women’s rights.

It is evident that the world perhaps is unfair to some people. However, inequality should not extend to the extent of harming a fellow human being. Despite our different abilities, we have commonness in that we can reason. Racism against African Americans has proved nonsensical as Blacks have shown equal skills as those of white Americans. President Barrack Obama despite being an African American became the president of America. Women have also successfully participated in economic, political and civil fields. Women and men exist to complement rather than sabotage one another.

Citations:

Ake, J., & Arnold, G. (2017). A brief history of anti-violence against women movements in the

United States. Sourcebook on violence against women, 3-26.

JAMES, E. (2002). Racial inequality: Emphasis on explanations. The Western Journal of Black

Studies, 26(4), 249.

King, M. L. (1963). I have a dream: Speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King at the March on

Washington. About the National Organization for Women; retrieved from http;//www.now.org

Schechter, S. (1982). Women and male violence: The visions and struggles of the battered

women's movement. South End Press.

Schulhofer, S. J. (1998). Unwanted sex: The culture of intimidation and the failure of law (Vol.

99). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Tischauser, L. V. (2012). Jim crow laws. ABC-CLIO. Retrieved from

http://www.nps.gov/malu/forteachers/jim_crow_laws