The segregation of individuals has been practiced for decades. It is an act that one certainly should not be proud of and did not stop witnesses of the event from standing up. The domination that the black community faced was horrendous and is something that should not repeat in history. Although the fight for the end of segregation transformed history, it is vital to consider the changes that need to happen today. Ensuring history does not repeat itself is important, and the spread of awareness should be practiced religiously.
The system of segregation has always disgusted me, as everyone should be treated equally to those around them. Despite the establishment of the 14th amendment, the government themselves didn’t consider the effects of their decision. This egocentric behavior has been a disturbing part of history and has still yet to change. Although the government today has established better laws, the social perspective on the black community is unfathomable and should be changed.
While discriminatory behavior continues today, it was seen worse in history. There were many witnesses of the event, yet did not dare to stand up for themselves and their community. On the other hand, Rosa Parks had gone through all the stereotypical scenarios that a black individual would face in the 1900s. She found ways of advocating for herself in the smallest of events and wanted to ensure that she stood up for what was right. In summary, Parks was known as an activist of the Civil Rights Movement and worked towards ending segregation during the 1900s.
The Refusal to Stand Lead to the End of Segregation:
Recalling a famous incident, Parks was going home from work on a typical day. She was tired and went on a bus, and sat down on her seat. She had been minding her own business, as three white men came on the bus a few stops later. The bus driver asked Rosa to stand, and replace her with a white man. Knowing how wrong this incident was, Parks decided to refuse her seat. The refusal resulted in the upbringing of the “Bus Boycott”. The protest had concluded with a victory after 382 days(one year and 17 days), and the segregation on transportation services had ended; this was not to say that segregation ended entirely. The immense dedication towards this boycott has paid off, and shows how long it takes to achieve such rights like this. As a society, we should remember not to take these rights for granted; and celebrate the accomplishments of black individuals.
Martin Luther King Jr. and His Contributions:
Martin Luther King Jr. was known as a social rights activist during the mid-1900s. King has contributed to many speeches, one being famously known as “I have a dream.” This speech moved many people, and his way of articulating his words was incredibly powerful. As for the Bus Boycott, Parks was arrested due to her refusal of a white man her seat. As mentioned earlier, this led to the “Bus Boycott” protest to arise. Seeing this, King planned to arrange a protest with the help of Joe Anne Robinson. In doing so, black individuals fought for their civil rights and equality by not going on any transportation service to get their rights. The protest concluded with the end of segregation.
All in all, the racial discrimination that occurred in history was ten times worse than what one could imagine in today’s society. Despite the severity not being as bad, discrimination continues today. There have been various recent cases, such as the George Floyd incident. Collectively, let us apply the intellectual mindset of Parks, and implicate her thinking into our daily practices.