Preview

Harvey Milk

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1243 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk’s dream was a better tomorrow filled with the hope for equality and a world without hate. Harvey Milk’s ground breaking election in 1977 as one of the world’s first openly gay elected officials-and its most visible one- symbolized the freedom to live life with authenticity to millions of LGBT women and men around the world.
Harvey served less than a year in public office before his brutal assassination but his life profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community. His courage, passion and sense of justice rocked a country and stirred the very core of a put down and pushed out community, bringing forward new hope and a new vision of freedom.
Harvey’s inspiring life has been the subject and inspiration for Academy award winning films (1984 The Times of Harvey Milk and 2009 Milk), operas, books including children’s books, plays, music, awards, proclamations and starting in 2010, an annual official governmental day of recognition.
Harvey showed us all what one person, standing up loudly and clearly, against a fierce societal fear and prejudice can accomplish. He created a rich and vivid message of hope and an enduring dream, teaching us how to create our own and leaving them for us to realize.
Biography
Harvey Milk, was a visionary civil and human rights leader who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk’s unprecedented loud and unapologetic proclamation of his authenticity as an openly gay candidate for public office, and his subsequent election gave never before experienced hope to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) people everywhere at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility and discrimination. His remarkable career was tragically cut short when he was assassinated nearly a year after taking office.
Harvey was born May 22, 1930, in Woodmere (New York) in a small middle-class Jewish

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    He never missed an opportunity to back equal employment opportunities for Blacks, and repeatedly introduced legislation to eliminate discrimination in federal agencies and by federal contractors. In 1956, impatient with the influence of the southern segregationists who made up a significant wing of the Democratic party, Powell shocked his fellow Democrats by supporting Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in the President’s successful bid for reelection. He showed through character by sticking to who he believed in and supporting what he thought was right. That’s a true representative that I want to resemble. His stance cause him to make a lot of enemies in Congress, and I believe that caused him to have not much support in the…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    After Carl had discovered a missing bomb for the air force he noticed a line used for towing was loose so he immediately tried to push his colleagues out the way. In return the line struck him in his left leg below the knee, nearly shearing it off. In addition at the age of seven, my brother and I were walking home as we encountered an over grown, vicious pit-bull dog who tried chasing after us. My brother immediately threw me over the nearest tall gate in order to secure my protection. I was in complete awe that my brother could react so quickly when it came to my safety. Both Harvey and Carl put their own lives at risk in order to help keep others out of…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King, Jr., a Civil Rights Activist of the 1950s, delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 to advocate for equal rights for all ethnicities and to convey the message that unity is essential to the strength of society. Martin Luther King, Jr. starts his speech by uniting the audience under a similar belief that, “all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the…

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the summer of 1969, Greenwich Village in New York erupted into protest against police raids on gay bars and establishments. The protests began with the raiding of the popular establishment The Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall riots proved pivotal in the gay rights movement, as the Sixties and Seventies marked the rise of queers rights activist groups that fought for equality through political means. However, the growing queer community was still seen as relatively docile and non-violent until the riots began, at which point the community began protesting with “uncharacteristic fury and outrage”. Foremost, The protests dramatically changed the depiction of the queer community in the media. Additionally, they kickstarted the rise of significant advancement for the cause of gay rights. Finally, the protests contributed widely to the birth of what became the modern pride movement. Overall, the events and Stonewall had a profound and dramatic influence on the gay rights movement in such ways that…

    • 1282 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Malcolm X was a man who changed the lives of the African Americans, especially in Harlem. During his time of living, Malcolm X fought, worked, and struggled to help make Harlem a better place for the Afro-Americans at a young age. He was a big influencer to the African American world, but he was assassinated, but little did he know he would leave his legacy with Harlem to, later on, spread to the world. Of course, there were some who had some negative things to say about Malcolm X, but the ones who really got to know him begged to differ because they knew how much he impacted the African American community. Malcolm X used his strong words to an advantage to lift the weak and weary.…

    • 198 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through Martin Luther King Jr.’s 39 years of life, he impacted millions across the globe with his letters and speeches. For most of his life, King used his strong ability with words to inspire and call people to action in many cases. King’s words were so moving because no matter black or white, King understood the issues people experienced daily. I believe Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” was so impactful because of the way he persuaded people why civil disobedience was necessary and what caused him to break the law with his strong use of ethos, logos and pathos, and by answering the concerns of the people.…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through reading countless books that were all higher than the required levels of readings at his school, he acquired a vast sea of knowledge. He created a name for himself as an established writer because of all the knowledge he acquired from reading. Reading books allowed him to further advance him as a reader, letting his grasp the structure and diction of famous books. With that, he could become a successful writer and make it in life to “save his life.” Saving himself inspired others in his community to save themselves leading to an endless chain of saving…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Emmett Till Case

    • 2042 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The case of Emmett Till sent tremors through the nation that sparked the conflict between the ideals of the north and the south. It exposed the gross negligence of the justice system of Mississippi toward its African American citizens, and when the nation learned of this tragedy it realized that change was necessary. This change would of course not come easily, dedication, sacrifice, and bravery were all required. The senseless murder of Emmett Till served as motivation for thousands across the nation to demand a change in the nation, Jim Crow laws had to go. The murder of Emmett Till served as a catalyst for the civil rights movement and inspired people like Rosa Parks to stand up for themselves, because of the nature of the murder, the…

    • 2042 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harvey Milk was born in Woodmere, New York in 1930. He went on to college at New York State College for Teachers and majored in mathematics. After graduating, Milk joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. During this time, he was very successful and was discharged in 1955 as a lieutenant, junior grade. Following his time of service, Milk began teaching at George W. Hewlett High School. While teaching, Joe Campbell would enter Milk’s life. The two fell in love and moved in together, but after six years of being together, the two separated. Harvey Milk went on to court another man by the name of Craig Rodwell. Rodwellwas part of a gay activist group which was known for agitating the police. Despite being very involved with him, Milk felt he…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Its who he stopped from contributing that makes him important. While the assassination of JFK is big, it affected more than just the president. It effected the whole civil rights movement. This is the movement to get equal rights for minorities and females, as well as to enforce them. This was already a chaotic era and with the 4 major assignations against the movement’s leaders; many thought the cause was lost. However it only inspired them to not let the deaths be in vain. Whether Lee Harvey Oswald’s intentions were to stop the civil rights movement or to stop the resentment towards communism, America’s main enemy at the time, though out America, there are many theories about whether or not it was actually Lee Harvey Oswald who shot the president. These theories are still around today, but it official is known that Lee Harvey Oswald was the one, as they found the empty bullet shell that matched the one that hit the president in Lee Harvey Oswald’s sniper nest. After shooting the president, he left his nest but was confronted by a police officer, which he then shot and killed. This assassination would inspire many Film makers and authors to write stories, biographies, and documentaries about him and the assignation attempt. There is a lot of information surrounding the attempt, as well as theories. A year after the shooting, the US government stated that there were multiple shooters who were all after the…

    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    After years of segregation and inequality, one man stood up and fought for what was right. This man spoke of dreams and for what he felt as morally right, ethically right, lawfully right and emotionally right. This man spoke of freedom, brotherhood and equality among all people, no matter what race they were. He brought forth facts and emotions to America that was being felt by the black community, which was being treated so badly. This man was Martin Luther King Jr., a clergyman and civil rights leader, who later was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. King opened the eyes of America to a broader sense of understanding, to a wider view of the inequality and hate that almost every black person had to live through at that time. After several peaceful protests King was arrested for demonstrating in defiance of a court order, by participating in a parade, he was then taken to Birmingham jail (Leff & Utley, 8-9).…

    • 2996 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cesar Chavez

    • 1338 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life." - César E. Chávez…

    • 1338 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He and many other gay people had moved to San Francisco to get away from the Stonewall Riots that were happening in New York involving protests and riots for gay rights. Although Milk and many others had escaped from one mess they soon had to deal with the San Francisco community discriminating them. Milk soon became very tired of the discrimination and wanted a change. “Milk knew that the only way to truly achieve equality would be for a gay person to be elected to public office” (“Bringing people hope: Harvey Milk and the Gay Rights Movement in America”). Milk ran for a spot on the San Francisco City Council having the gay community for support and many other organizations as well such as a variety of ethnic groups. Milk had no experience with politics but he tried his best at winning by giving speeches, handing out flyers, selling t-shirts, gaining sponsors, and etc. “His campaign slogan, “Milk has something for everybody,” reflected this approach” (“Harvey Benard Milk”). For being an openly gay and jewish candidate, Milk managed to make himself widely known throughout San…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, he wanted all to be equal. He wanted no one to be ashamed of who they were. I have a dream that my America’s Got Talent audition went well and I get a call back. My dream has always been to be a professional singer like Ariana Grande or Beyoncé. I had been given an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. We were going to stay in a beautiful hotel, but we decided to stay home. We printed out my paperwork and went to sleep.…

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harvey Dent, white knight, saviour and “hero” of the infamous Gotham. Batman on the other hand, is the Dark Knight and the troubled hero who chose his identity over the people. Many believe that the movie the Dark Knight, communicates to viewers the superficial perspective of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey. However, Batman transcends that perspective of true heroism and what it means to be a hero. The underlying message in which the movie argues is that the whole concept of heroism is simply a myth created in Hollywood.…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays