The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s fought for equal rights for all races, aimed at destroying segregation in classrooms, public transit, and war zones. This battle took place in schools, as seen in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, which "...unanimously held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment" (McBride). A bolstering aid to the movement in education, which was also excaserbated by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where multiple women had refused to give up their seat on a public transit bus; Not just Rosa parks but also a Claudet Culvin, who at 15 years old was arrested for not giving up her bus seat to a white person. The Students for a Democratic Society was a group of students who addressed racism in the Vietnam War. This group was an activist group led "by students, marginalized communities, and women that continued into the mid 1970s."(Janowiecki) The students created 'The New Left', which was radical at the time, sprouting protests on college campuses, focusing on issues like the Vietnam War, free speech, and racism. These activists contributed to a movement toward a more integrated society that is still being fought today.
We are continuing to witness the decline in social integration among younger generations. The issues focused on how it has now pivoted into fighting climate change and economic inequality. Instead of holding picket protests, the movement has shifted to social media platforms. However, there are some key differences between the modern social movement and the 1960s Civil Rights movement. Today, racial injustice does exist, but it's not as 'In your face'; these issues have worked their way into the social and economic system, making them more challenging to address directly. Analyzing the similarities and differences of modern and past social movements is very helpful in understanding the direction modern society is headed.
Works Cited
Janowiecki, Michelle . “Speaking and Protesting in America.” Americanarchive.org, 2019, americanarchive.org/exhibits/first-amendment/protests-60s-70s. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.McBride,
Alex. “The Supreme Court. Expanding Civil Rights. Landmark Cases . Brown v. Board of Education (1954) | PBS.” Thirteen.org, PBS, Dec. 2006, www.thirteen.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.