what role did civil disobedience play in the Civil Rights Movement
Check these sites.
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0909663.html
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/modern/parks_1
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Would this be a good answer?
Civil disobedience is defined as the belief that people have the right to disobey the
law under certain circumstances and it was an important part in the Civil Rights Movement. Using civil disobedience, Martin Luther King Jr. tried to emphasize non violence by developing a strategy and disobeying unjust laws. This was used in his marches, his speeches and various other things. Civil disobedience is also attributed to the desegregation of public buses when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. This was an important milestone during this time.
This is good.
I'd add that Dr. King told his followers not to fight back when they were attacked or arrested.
Thank you very much for your help. :)
You're very welcome! :-)
Civil disobedience played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement by being a powerful tool for advocating for change, confronting injustice, and challenging discriminatory laws and practices. Civil disobedience involves intentionally and non-violently breaking unjust laws or rules, usually as a form of protest or resistance.
To understand the role of civil disobedience in the Civil Rights Movement, you can start by researching key figures and events such as Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her bus seat for a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, sparking a large-scale boycott of the city's bus system by African Americans. This act of civil disobedience became a rallying point for the Civil Rights Movement, leading to the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery.
Another significant example is the sit-in protests that took place in the 1960s. African American college students, notably the "Greensboro Four" in North Carolina, would occupy segregated lunch counters or other public facilities that denied them service based on their race. These peaceful protests aimed to generate media attention, raise awareness about racial discrimination, and put pressure on businesses and local governments to desegregate.
Civil disobedience in the Civil Rights Movement also included freedom rides, where integrated groups of activists traveled together by bus across Southern states to protest against segregated interstate transportation and facilities. They intentionally violated Jim Crow laws by sitting in racially segregated areas of buses and using "whites-only" facilities. These acts of civil disobedience often faced violent opposition from white supremacists, exposing the deep-seated racism prevalent in society.
Overall, civil disobedience played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement by challenging the legal and social norms of racial segregation and discrimination. It helped bring attention to the injustices faced by African Americans, mobilize support for the cause, and put pressure on policymakers and institutions to bring about change. By understanding the historical context, key events, and methods used, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of civil disobedience in the Civil Rights Movement.