Essay On Voting Rights

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Why is it that people are so against the idea of change? Change isn’t scary or frightful. For those people who are scared of change, are the ones who make unfair laws and rules that people who are different have to follow. Like African-Americans, who had far few rights then they do today. Before the 15th amendment, African Americans had been used as slaves and were discriminated against. African Americans were not allowed to certain things, like use the same restrooms, go to the same restaurants, drink from the same water fountain, sit with Caucasian people, etc. Another one of those actions was that African Americans were not able to participate in is voting. People, who were activists, state troopers, and protesters, were being hurt and murdered for standing up and fighting for what they believed in (Voting). African Americans were fighting for the right to have the same equality as Caucasian people. The most well known and remembered speaker was Martin Luther King Jr. In his speech, I Have a Dream, is when he then states, "We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality"(Martin). No matter what they did, the African Americans felt as if they were to blame and were wrong. Most African Americans were being punished, killed or very severely hurt. People like, Eugene “Bull” Connor, violently attacked the protesters(Voting Rights..Rights Act of 1965). It took the murder of voting-rights activist in Philadelphia, Mississippi, which gained national attention, and other numerous acts of violence and terrorism for people to actually recognize that there is a problem. Also the unprovoked attack on March 7, 1965 by state troopers on peaceful marchers crossing the Edmund Pet... ... middle of paper ... ...dden him from voting. He can’t also serve on jury and can’t become a member of the Florida bar (Knafo). The law says that when you become a felon, you get all your voting rights taken away from you for the rest of your life (Knafo). At least every person of any race can vote. Throughout the years, African Americans fought for their right to vote. They were determined to be equal as everyone else. Now years later, they are. Although there will always be racism in the world, now you could be punished for it. Unlike in the 1920’s when no one did anything about it. African Americans had no other desire than to be equal. It only took people who stood up for them to get a majority of African Americans and even Caucasian people to follow in their footsteps. Whether you’re a girl or boy, African American or Caucasian, short or tall, we all deserve to be treated equally.

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