Eric Jones May 23, 2014 Final Essay Embracing the Power Asa Philip Randolph made a powerful statement by saying, “Freedom is never given; it is won” (Randolph). These were words from a humble, strong, and risk taking man who had ideas and the determination to make a difference within his community for rights and freedom. Following the path of Randolph there were Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, and other powerful leaders took a stand against the segregation and non-equal rights for African Americans people; Asa Philip Randolph was the first person who took different roles in groups, organized protest and marches to make sure the message was known to stop the hatred against African Americans. His motivation was in witnessing the way African Americans were treated in the community and hatred against them for no reason. Randolph beliefs and motivational speaking leading him to organized one of the talked about historical marches and that was the March on Washington to ensure that African Americans have their rights, and make sure it was heard. Asa Philip Randolph was born in 1889 in Crescent City, Florida, into a poor family (Sawinski). The Randolph family was strong on religion and education. Despite the family’s difficulties making ends meet, James William Randolph tutored his sons in reading and refused to use segregated facilities (Sawinski). In 1903, Randolph attended Cookman Institute, an all-black male Methodist school where he excelled. Randolph had a great mind when it came to coming up with ideas (McNeill). The college offered a free education for those with strong academic skills at college also Randolph was interested in politics and organized his own political group, the Independent Political Council (McNeill). He ... ... middle of paper ... ...He had been a witness to see that African American people were getting treated wrong because of their skin color; he felt that it was not the right thing to do because everyone should get treated equally. Following his path of hard work and making a difference there were Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. he paved the way for us black people to be equal in everything we have jobs, schooling, and our freedom, it has changed American history because African Americans have a came a long way from being slaves, beaten, and humiliated because of their skin. It has an impact on us because now if we see that we say something because we know that it is not right and really cruel. The lesson of this is to show that we all could take a stand no matter and not with violence all it takes is motivation, determination, and confidence to stand up for what you believe in.
In the museum I learned that A. Philip Randolph wanted to march in Washington to protest against the exclusions of African Americans from federal employment. Due to this,
“It should come as no surprise that Washington’s historical conflict culminated as a struggle between him and DuBois” (Gibson III 66). To say the least, both men were very active in the upbringing of African-Americans, but their differences in displaying out the solution was what brought them apart. Washington wanted the education system to enforce industrial teachings that started at lower economic power, while DuBois had more abstract ideas of equality and voting for African-Americans. Washington was conservative in the matter of African-American inclusion into society, hoping that given enough time and progress, people would learn to accept them, rather than fight for social power like what DuBois stood for. Despite Washington’s program that appealed to White-Americans, he was involved in politics and spoke about the disfranchisement of African-Americans.
Many students generally only learn of Dr. King’s success, and rarely ever of his failures, but Colaiaco shows of the failures of Dr. King once he started moving farther North. In the book, Colaiaco presents the successes that Dr. King has achieved throughout his work for Civil Rights. The beginning of Dr. King’s nonviolent civil rights movement started in Montgomery, Alabama, when Rosa Parks refused to move for a white person, violating the city’s transportation rules. After Parks was convicted, Dr. King, who was 26 at the time, was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). “For 381 days, thousands of blacks walked to work, some as many as 12 miles a day, rather than continue to submit to segregated public transportation” (18).
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest civil rights leaders to ever live. Through his empowering speeches, he made a huge impact on the world for the equality of all races. Throughout King’s life, he showed everyone how he believed equality should be acquired. With his peaceful protests and amazing speeches, he influenced people both during his time and after he passed. Many believe that King’s work in the Civil Rights Movement was the final push that America needed to finally respect people no matter their skin color.
African Americans were among the worst treated races in the US; however, this did not stop them from fighting for the rights that so many had died for. It seemed as if black people would never be treated respectfully, but just like in comic books, there is always a hero that will fight for his people. This hero soon came to the scene and he was fierce enough to change the lives of many people. Most importantly, he broke the color barrier and created a path that would allow others to follow. However, something that was inevitable was the threats and racial remarks they had to face.
Asa Philip Randolph was a key leader of the time who would encourage African American workers to fight for their rights as groups through the formation of unions. His background helped influence his actions. His goal in almost everything he did was to help African Americans gain economic power. His father was a minister and his family truly believed in a good education. Randolph graduated valedictorian of his Cookmar Institute class (Tuttle). In 1911 he moved to New York where he took night classes and earned money as an elevator operator. While in New York, his interest in social justice and politics grew. This led to the foundation of The Messenger with good friend, Chandler Owen. According to Tuttle, “The Messenger was the boldest and became an important voice for black equality.” Randolph rallied many different types of people including labor leaders, civil rights activists, and government figures in hopes of creating change. He brought together some of the most well know...
...f human, social, economic, political and religious relationship.” Randolph was exactly following some of the main points of the Atlantic Charter since he believed in a much higher social relation, exactly what the Atlantic Charter says. He was a great example of a man that carried out the message that the Atlantic charter was saying. Throughout his fight he worked very hard to make the rights of blacks and whites the same. He looked at the Four freedoms that the war would bring. In most paintings of the Four freedoms either for propaganda or to illustrate them it is only whites and not a single black person in each of the freedoms. He tried to convince that the freedoms are meant for not only the whites but also the blacks. A. Philip. Randolph was a well known man that followed the Atlantic charter and also made the segregation of blacks and whites the same.
It is true that the NAACP stands as one of the progressive movement in America's major victories against legal, and thus political, oppression. . Within a few weeks this number was enlarged to about fifty, one-third of whom were from other cities than New York. It is The nation's oldest civil rights organization that has changed America's history. Despite violence, intimidation and hostile government policies, the NAACP and its grass-roots membership persevered. One of the most famous members of the NAACP was Rosa Parks who is known for her courageous acts when she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus back in 1955.
Perhaps one of his most sustained acts was his ability to represent the plight of African American rights while simultaneously portraying a palatable character to White America. In addition to leading various civil disobedience campaigns, he served as the movement’s main “strategist, theorist, and symbol maker” while also becoming the “movement’s chief interpreter to white Americans.” Stewart Burns actually goes so far as to suggest King, early on, realized his destiny was to be both a black Moses, delivering his brothers from the injustice of Jim Crow, as well as a Christ-like figure, offering equal measures of love, compassion, and forgiveness. This of course caused him to be disliked and criticized amongst some of the more nationalist and militant black leaders of the time, but inversely, allowed many Americans to sympathize with the movement’s main goals.
The year of 1963 had an extreme amount of racial tension and arguments about the rights of African Americans. The white people were vastly prejudice towards the blacks and used all kinds of falderal. Several people began to stand up and show their opinions about the civil disobedience that the laws stood for. Many did this in a public manner therefore they were arrested and sent to jail. An example of this was Martin Luther King, Jr. when he wrote “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” during the time of the protests. All of the people’s opinions are what led to the March on Washington. “In the summer of 1941 A. Philip Randolph, founder of the Broth...
Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who believed in fighting for the rights of African Americans in the United States. He made many sacrifices for the people he was fighting for and never stopped until he was shot after a protest. MLK changed many people’s lives by standing up in front of thousands of people to share his “Dream” for America. No one can change the impression he made on not just the African Americans, but as well as the whites. He will forever be remembered for the changes he fought for when he never got the chance to actually see the change happen.
...mined man, Martin Luther King was by far the most influential person in American history. He was fearless and fought for equal rights through speeches, marches and protests. He knew that his strong attitude and opinion on civil rights would cause many people to dislike him, but he didn’t care and continued to fight for African American rights. He has affected my life as well as the life my future children will live. I don’t live in a world of segregation and I’m not treated any differently than a white person because of his braveness to speak out. I am allowed to eat in the same restaurants, use the same public water fountains and bathrooms, ride the same buses and go to the same schools as a white person. If it wasn’t for him, that might not have been possible. His actions showed that one person can impact the country with a lot of effort and a humble attitude.
...le. He worked through the struggles and difficulties to make sure that his goals were accomplished. The actions he took allowed African Americans to gather hope and lead a change in our world.
Americans needed Martin Luther King Jr., but above all, America needed him. With his constant pursuit for equality, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped bridge the gap between African Americans and whites. His nonviolent methods of protest helped create an awareness of the inequalities that African Americans had to endure. King helped America realize that it needed to change in order to truly prosper. Martin Luther King had the best philosophy for riding America of segregation, he used nonviolent methods to get Americans to realize that segregation needed to be stopped and he united both African Americans and whites together to fight for equality and a better nation.
Growing up in the South I experienced the affects of desegregation in the schools and saw how one person standing up for what they believe in could make a difference. On the national stage Martin Luther King Jr. was a powerful agent of change. He stood up for what he believed in and was subjected to abuse and violence as a result. Martin Luther King became the leader of a movement that forced huge changes in this country - from desegregation to voting rights to equal opportunity laws.