The African American Peoples Fight for Equality Essay

The Civil Rights Movement is the story of the struggle of African-American people and their fight for equality. Although exceptional leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Ralph Abernathy fought long and hard and carried the burden of the movement on their shoulders, they were not alone. The struggle was fueled by the commitment and the hard work of thousands of everyday people who decided that the time had come to take a stand. The fight for equal educational opportunities for African-American students has left its indelible mark on the history of the state of Alabama. Alabama fought to maintain its binary public educational system. Through numerous memorable demonstrations and landmark cases African-Americans were†¦show more content†¦Although this problem was more prevalent in the South, it was not only restricted to the Southern states. Within the South, the ideology that was indoctrinated was that in order to keep the natural order of society, African-Americans should be keep un-educated. An educated African-American could become a danger and a threat to the way of life for many whites in the South. Some people clung to the belief that African-Americans were incapable of learning anything other that the most rudimentary facts and so any attempt at a proper education was a wasted effort. The despicable and long tolerated â€Å"Jim Crow Laws† hung ominously over the South like storm clouds threatening to burst into a tornadic rage at any given moment. The name Jim Crow is a label that was given to the segregation laws enacted by state lawmakers, mainly in the South. Although these laws were in place to prohibit African-American citizens in many areas of daily life, a key factor was education. Education is the doorway to improving one’s life. Without a good education no one could adv ance themselves in society. A poor education guaranteed a poor lifestyle for the African-Americans. Separate Is Not Equal The Supreme Court’s ruling in 1896 established that facilities for African-Americans and whites could remain separate as long as they were equal. This concept was never fully applied in its entirety in the South. The separation of races was notShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of the Civil Rights Leaders Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagesfought for equality and freedom for African Americans. Over 70% of African Americans were experiencing segregation and discrimination during the civil right movement. African Americans only had one another for support, so during this time African Americans appreciated civil right leaders. During the civil rights movement, many leaders helped African Americans cope with changes that they were experiencing. 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