Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King and the civil Rights...

How would you feel if you were told you can’t sit in the front of the bus or you can’t dine in a certain restaurants because of the color of your skin? The civil rights movement was a movement that held massive numbers of nonviolent protest against racial segregation and discrimination in America especially the southern states during the 1950’s and 60’s. The struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights in America during this time was a major problem. The civil rights movement was not only about stopping racial segregation amongst African Americans but also to challenge the terrible economic, political, and cultural consequences of that time. But with the help of great leaders and organizations in the civil rights†¦show more content†¦King’s SCLC organization allied with other organizations to protest against racial segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. In the city of Birmingham, there were laws that made it legal for segregation. The m ayor and police commissioner of Birmingham at that time were segregationist who would treat blacks violently. Also, â€Å"the governor of the state George Wallace, won office with promises of segregation forever†. In Birmingham there were several black churches and homes that was bombed, including the homes of SCLC members who campaigned for civil rights. King grew tired of the violent treatment of blacks and he decided to set up headquarters at a motel for him and his organizers to recruit volunteers for protests marches and boycotts through the techniques of nonviolence in Birmingham. The protesting and boycotting began with, marches in the city hall, lunch counter sit ins, stores, etc. and white business owners was losing a significant amount money and some of them decided to desegregate their business and begin hiring blacks. More and more people showed up each day, even though some were placed in jail. The City officials of Birmingham stuck to their segregation laws and acquired a sanction prohibiting the protests and boycotts. King was able to convince his organizers to continue to protest and boycott while violating such sanctions. ThisShow MoreRelatedEssay On Maya Angelou1400 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 2017 America’s Poet The life experiences of the late Maya Angelou —author, poet, actress, singer, dancer, playwright, director, producer — became the key element of her most prominent work, a lyrical poet telling the stories of what it means to be an African American; having a wide range, multi-series autobiographies that lays the foundation of her identity as a American black woman. The acclaimed Maya Angelou’s legacy not only impacted American culture that will resonate withRead MoreMalcolm X And Maya Angelou And A Homemade Education1791 Words   |  8 PagesStates people of color were not given the same rights as white men. In â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther King Jr., â€Å"Graduation† by Maya Angelou and â€Å"A Homemade Education† by Malcolm X, the authors discuss their experiences and fight against inequality. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Maya Angelou were just a few of the hundreds of thousands of blacks who restlessly foug ht for civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Maya Angelou showed that in the face of adversity to persevereRead MoreMaya Angelous Great Influence and Success Essay679 Words   |  3 Pagesnovelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and even a civil rights activist. During her early years while still in High School Dr. Angelou experienced brutal racial discrimination directing her to the values of traditional African-Americans. In High School Dr. Angelou received a scholarship for a labor school in San Francisco but eventually dropping out. During the years of 1954 and 1955 Dr. Angelou toured Europe with a production named Porgey and Bess these would be her startingRead MoreEssay about Maya Angelou1434 Words   |  6 Pages Maya Angelou is one of the most influential and talented African American writers of our modern day. Those who read Angelou‘s works should not pass the thought of where her influence came from. Maya Angelou’s work has been heavily affected by the era in which she began to write. The fifties and sixties were a tumultuous time for most African-Americans in the US. The civil-rights movement, led by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League, MartinRead MoreMaya Angelou Essay1019 Words   |  5 PagesMaya Angelou is an American author who is known for her poetry and novels that lyrically illustrate the experiences of African Americans and also acts as a spokesperson for black pride and heritage (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). Although she speaks for people of color, her messages of hope and strength appeal to people of all ages and races. Angelou is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bir d Sings, in which she recalls herself as a young African American girl findingRead MoreThe Life Of Marguerite Johnson1011 Words   |  5 Pageshad given Marguerite a nickname Maya. (noteablebiograophies.com) Living with her grandmother , she gained so much confidence and pride. Her grandmother was the one to show her how to live with her self and be content with it. Visiting her mother back to her home town St. Louis, Missouri she was raped by her mother s boyfriend. Maya testified against him which was very hard on her since she was only an eight year old. Her uncles beat the offender to death. Maya felt as if she killed him becauseRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Still I Rise 893 Words   |  4 Pagesprejudice and injustice in this nation for many decades. The quest for equality and civil rights has been a never ending struggle even before the famous 1960’s civil rights movement that was spear headed by Martin Luther King Jr. and many others. Even though Thomas Jefferson wrote the famous words in the Declaration of Independence â€Å"all men are created equal† ( ), we are consistently observing that the fight for human rights and equality still exist today. Although African Americans have experienced andRead MoreEssay On Maya Angelou1879 Words   |  8 PagesMaya Angelou is one of the most important American Authors who ever lived. She was an African-American woman who spoke her mind and when someone told her she couldn’t do something, it made her want to do it even more so that she could prove them wrong (Shapiro). Her life was incredibly difficult, but it made her who she was and influenced her writing and poetry immensely. As Gary Younge once said, â€Å"To know her life story is to simultaneously wonder what on earth you have been doing with yourRead MoreAn Analysis Of Maya Angelou And Alice Walker927 Words   |  4 PagesMaya Angelou and Alice Walker are two well-known contemporary African- American writers. Although both women are from different generations they share some of the same qualities and experiences. Both women used their past experiences of tragedy and hardship as a stepping stool for growth by turning that pain into what now are famous stories and poems. For most writers, majority of their work stem from their own experiences, and for both Alice and Maya a great deal of their works regarded the dilemmasRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement And The American Civil Movement958 Wor ds   |  4 Pages The Civil Rights Movement, also known as the American Civil Rights Movement and other names, is a term that encompasses the strategies, groups, and social movements in the United States whose goals were to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans and to secure legal recognition and federal protection of the citizenship rights enumerated in the Constitution and federal law. The movement was characterized by major campaigns of civil resistance. Between 1955 and 1968