The New Left: The Civil Rights Movement

From 1950-1970 many groups of people such as homosexuals African Americans and women were changing in American. This movement taking place was called the movement to the New Left. The New Left is a political movement is often grouped in with the Hippie movement, meaning that it was a time period where America was challenged to widen their views and move away from the forms of the traditional thinking. The New Left movement changed America in significant ways. One way was the start of gay rights. In modern society, homosexuals are still fighting for the right to marry, but this all began during the movement of the New Left. A second way was the start of the civil rights movement. African Americans challenged the old way of thinking and fought
Women fought for their right to vote, as well as breaking molds from the traditional housewife role. Without women fighting for their rights, society would not be how it is today. The most significant of these movements is the Civil Rights movement. The civil rights movement was led by people such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. Each of these three leaders had different methods to their approach to obtaining equal rights, but ultimately all three were effective in their own way. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took a more peaceful, but powerful approach to Civil Rights. Dr. King was peaceful with his actions, but powerful with his words. Dr. King delivered his I Have A Dream speech, in which he stated that he hoped one day white and blacks could live together in peace. This
Parks was also the secretary of the chapter of the NAACP in Montgomery, Alabama (Gosse 46). Rosa was similar to Dr. King in the sense that she was not a violent activist, but rather lead by her actions. Rosa Parks is widely known for her boycott on the bus. She was asked to move to the back of the bus, so a white man could have her seat. Rosa refused to move, and as a result she was arrested. In March 1956, Rosa spoked at the Highlander folk school and said, “It just happened that the driver made a demand and I just didn’t feel like obeying his demand.” (Gosse 46). Parks demonstrates with this statement that it was not a thought out process. She was not working to gain attention or cause a scene. The driver of the bus made a request that she felt was unfair and she decided to not obey the request. As a result of Rosa Parks, African Americans boycotted the bussing system in Montgomery. No African Americans rode the bus, which greatly impacted the bussing systems, because the majority of those who rode the bus were African Americans. Rosa Parks was a significant leader during the Civil Rights movement. She fought with her actions and words, but did not use violence to deliver her