Civil Rights Dbq Essay

Martin Luther King's philosophy toward civil rights was greatly influenced by how he was raised. King grew up in a Christian household and later in his life he would become a pastor like his father and grandfather. He was introduced to the ideals and beliefs of Gandhi, which his nonviolent protests were modeled after (Background essay). Martin Luther King's philosophy made the most sense for America in the 1960s. Three of the major influences nonviolence had on African Americans in the 1960s is shown in cultural integration, increasing civil rights protests, and cooperation within their communities. Nonviolence is shown to have an enormous impact during the era of John F. Kennedy's presidency as the United States would begin seeing the start
Those who disagreed with racial equality and did not want them to succeed attacked them and attacked their homes (Doc. D). These violent acts helped reveal the corruption that was plaguing the United States in the 1960s. Nonviolence has been shown to work, as African Americans made up a large percentage of the American population during this time, their protests could have had a serious effect on the economy. “This is nonviolence at its peak of power, when it cuts into the profit margin of a business in order to bring about a more just distribution of jobs and opportunities for Negro wage earners and consumers” (Doc. F). This is evidence that nonviolent protest carries a lot of power such that it impacts the flow of
Cultural integration was becoming more common during this time. Also, protests for racial equality were gaining more attention, positive and negative. Lastly, strategically African Americans did not have enough manpower to fight back so heated conflict would result in devastating defeat. The times were becoming more culturally diverse and it would only slow the progress to stay in separate communities, which was what Malcolm X believed. It is shown in the events and people of the 1960s that society was beginning to change for the