African Americans and Making a Difference essays

African Americans and Making a Difference essays Imagine walking down the street, while being called derogatory names. Imagine being legally banned from sitting in the front of the bus. Imagine how one must feel as he or she gives up the only seat to a white person and being forced to stand rather than sit. Imagine the fear one must feel as fellow citizens hatefully bomb his or her home. These are just a few examples of the hateful, violent acts of racial discrimination, which all African Americans were forced to endure. Because the suffering had become too much to bear, African Americans began speaking out against racial discrimination. As many leaders supporting the cause emerged, one man seemed to stand out in the crowd and take a starring role in what would become the civil rights movement. This man, whose name is most associated with the civil rights movement, was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His belief that African Americans could only gain civil rights through passive resistance and the use of non-violent protests differed from the beliefs of other civil rights leaders. King demonstrated his belief through the use of sit-ins, protests, and speeches, and his involvement in nonviolent groups and organizations working toward equality for African Americans. Such organizations were the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a Youth March for Integrated Schools. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "somebody will have to say 'Th ere lived a race of people, a black people, fleecy locks and black complexion, but a race of people who had the moral courage to stand up for their rights...."(Carson 2). The passive resistance ideology of Martin Luther King, Jr. is responsible for the success of the civil rights movement during the 1960's. At the very young age of six, King experienced his first encounter with racial discrimination. His experience at a young age led to the life-long goal of changing the way African ...