Civil Rights Reflection

Over the course of this semester I have learned about many important events in American History. Eyes on the Prize, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Voting Rights Act are the three key topics that have allowed me to derive a lesson that will guide me as a citizen in our democratic society. I developed an appreciation for all of the opportunities I have as a result of determined people standing up for what they believe in and I will always stand up for what I believe in, even in challenging times.
In the film Eyes on the Prize, I gained insight into the daily struggles African-Americans in the South faced as a result of inequality. The way in which Emmett Till’s mother reacted to her fourteen year old son’s brutal death in 1955 was admirable. I think it was very courageous of her to have an open casket funeral, so that people would stop trying to avoid the ugly truth of racism, and try to confront it. His death shed light on how bad segregation and racism was in the South. By allowing her son’s mutilated body to be displayed demonstrated how Emmett Till’s mother was standing up to racism. Even though the fight against racism continues on today, I think the decision Emmett Till’s mother made has resulted in progress being made in equality for all.
During the Civil

Rights Movement, people such as Rosa Parks and those participating in the Montgomery Bus Boycott demonstrated courage to stand up for their constitutional rights. Rosa Parks chose not to give up her seat to a white man on a bus which demonstrates how she was protesting for equality. As a result of her action, people in the African-American communities of Montgomery, Alabama united together against segregation by refusing to take public transportation, and walked more than eight miles each day instead. Bold individuals standing up for their rights in the Civil Rights Movement made me realize how they are the people who have created the most progress in trying to make everyone equal regardless of the race.
In Selma, Alabama, hundreds of adults and children united together to march peacefully across the Elmus Pettus Bridge as a form of protest for being deprived of the right to vote. At the end of the bridge, they were met by many law enforcement officers holding weapons- a favorite intimidation tactic. The officers ordered the demonstrators to turn back, but the peaceful protestors refused. This angered the officers causing them to brutally attack and tear gas the demonstrators. By standing strong in the face of danger, the adults and children taking part in this demonstration brought the reality of voting closer than ever. If they had not demonstrated the courage they showed by peacefully protesting their right to vote, many would not have the right to vote.
All of the knowledge I have gained through watching Eyes on the Prize and reading about the Civil Rights Movement and Voting Rights Act has shaped my perception about how I cannot take the rights I have for granted.

If it were not for people such as Emmett Till’s mother, Rosa Parks, or those who walked across the Elmus Pettus Bridge, inequality would be even more prevalent in the United States. I have learned from their actions to stand up for what is just, even if it means putting myself in challenging circumstances. As I become more involved in our democratic society I will always remember to stand up for what is right in order to make the United States a more tolerant, fair, and equal

country.