Civil Rights Movement/Activists

 Jarrica Brooks 

Dr. Harris 

Eng 2016-44378

27 November 2023

Civil Rights Movement/Activists

Exactly what is black studies? It involves the critical and systematic examination of African people's ideas and practices in their current and historical development. The purpose of black studies is to teach and create knowledge on the black experience leading to black people being mentally and politically free. It allows students who are not African American to have a more profound understanding and appreciation of the African, or African American culture that we see today. When introducing black studies in schools, there are many routes teachers and professors can take to effectively present the idea of the class. One effective way I would introduce black studies is by starting off with the Civil Rights Movement and its many activists, as well as their accomplishments. 

Some known activists that we know are Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, plus many more. We also know of many effective protests during this time such as the March on Washington for jobs and freedom which was a major protest. Two important activists whose opinions differed during the civil rights movement that students should learn about are Martin Luther King Jr and Malcom X. Their teachings towards the movement were very different, but they all wanted the same outcome. Martin Luther King supported nonviolent protest while inviting people of the opposite race to be a part of the movement. Malcolm X supported and believed that black people should defend themselves in response to the violence of white racists. An article titled, “Violence and/or Nonviolence in the Success of the Civil Rights Movement: The Malcolm X–Martin Luther King, Jr. Nexus”, discusses the opinions of both activists and their way to go about the Civil Rights Movement. 

Rosa Parks is another activist that should be included in black studies as she played a huge role in the civil rights movement and had a significant impact on segregation. As students read more about Rosa Parks, we learn more about her life in Detroit as well as focusing on her life as an activist. Students who are interested in learning more about Rosa Parks and her early life should read this article I did research on, titled, “I remembered Rosa Park: The Impact of Segregation”, and “The Northern Promised Land That Wasn’t: Rosa Parks and the Black Freedom Struggle in Detroit”. Learning the life of Rosa Parks after she got arrested. She lost her job as a seamstress after being arrested and moved to Detroit where she worked as administrative aide to U.S. representative John Conyers. Taking place on August 28, 1963, the March on Washington for jobs and freedom is one historical movement that can be introduced to black studies and played a huge role in the Civil Rights Movement. African American women played a huge role in the march operating as leaders. An article titled, “Get in Formation: Black Women’s Participation in the Women’s March on Washington as an Act of Pragmatic Utopianism,” speaks more on the different roles that black women played in the march. 

Referring back to all that has been stated, there are many topics that can be discussed when introducing black studies. Even though the Civil Rights Movement and activists are history, they are still relevant to some issues going on today. As I think of the Civil Rights Movement and its activists, I am reminded of the Black Lives Matter movement and its leaders and activists which is a part of our world today. 

Works Cited

Lopez Bunyasi, Tehama, and Candis Watts Smith. “Get in Formation: Black Women’s Participation in the Women’s March on Washington as an Act of Pragmatic Utopianism.” Black Scholar, vol. 48, no. 3, July 2018, pp. 4–16. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ulm.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/00064246.2018.1475833.

MAZZARI, LOUIS. “Winning the War for Democracy: The March on Washington Movement, 1941-1946.” History, vol. 101, no. 348, Dec. 2016, pp. 821–24. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ulm.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/1468-229X.12313.

Nimtz, August H. “Violence and/or Nonviolence in the Success of the Civil Rights Movement: The Malcolm X–Martin Luther King, Jr. Nexus.” New Political Science, vol. 38, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 1–22. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ulm.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/07393148.2015.1125116.

Theoharis, Jeanne. ““The Northern Promised Land That Wasn’t”: Rosa Parks and the Black Freedom Struggle in Detroit.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 26, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 23–27. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ulm.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/oahmag/oar054.

Wade-Lewis, Margaret. “I Remember Rosa Parks: The Impact of Segregation.” Black Scholar, vol. 35, no. 4, Winter 2006, pp. 2–12. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ulm.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/00064246.2006.11413329.