African American Civil Rights movie

Aaron Bañuelos

Soc. 122

M/W 5:30

 

African American Civil Rights Social Movement

 

Framing: Previous to the succession of the African American civil rights social movement, African Americans were treated as second-class citizens. African Americans faced segregation laws between whites and blacks and faced inequality throughout their daily lives. The civil rights movement did not need much help framing they're cause because it was pretty self-explanatory, they just wanted to be treated equally. African Americans were segregated from those who were white at school, on busses, and public bathrooms; however, Africans Americans grew tired of secondary treatment and looked to leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. to lead them on their journey to equality.

Political opportunity: Although there were many instances that led up to the civil rights movement the incident of Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus really helped ignite the social movement. On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery Alabama, this sparked the first major movement tactic in which African Americans boycotted the bus company this is known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Another major event that ignited the civil rights movement occurred eight years later when the 16^th Street Baptist Church which resulted in four young girls death. This event was organized by the Ku Klux Klan and was nationally publicized by the media; therefore, infuriating thousands of people across the United States of America from all different ethnic and racial backgrounds to come out and fight for civil rights and equality. Finally the third most significant political opportunity was the discrimination against black voting rights, which led to Dr. Martin Luther King leading peaceful marches from Selma Alabama all the way to the states Capitol Montgomery Alabama.

Resource Mobilization: The main resource for the civil rights resource mobilization was participation of both African Americans and those who were white. This was effective because it brought thousands of people together in protest and demand of desegregation and equality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was able to successfully preach non-violent tactics and training to those in participation of protesting; therefore, allowing the public to see that they were not looking to start trouble instead they just wanted to be treated equally. The economy was another form of resource mobilization tactic that was effect because those who were African American refused to spend money in businesses that supported segregation and boycotted public transportation such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott resulting in a great loss of profit for these companies; therefore, leaving them no other option but to comply with their demands of equal treatment. Finally the most significant source of mobilization was the media attention and coverage. The media played a significant role in the succession of the civil rights movement because it brought attention to the civil rights movements in the South to a national level which resulted in a greater demand for equality and more supporters who went to go stand hand in hand to march for equality.