Black Civil Rights

More than a hundred years ago the Europeans brought slaves to North America.


The blacks found themselves in the midst of prejudice whites with no way out.


When the blacks came over Jim Crow laws were incorporated. With these laws it


was near impossible for blacks to rise in the white world. Booker T. Washington


was the first black to rise to any prominence in this time. In the early 1900's


blacks however began to fight back. In 1909 black advancement organizations


began to increase all over North America. Unfortunately with the rise of these


groups also came the rise of racist white groups like the Ku Klux Klan and


others brutally killing blacks. All blacks coming into N. America were being


brought into a very hostile environment.


    The first sign of blacks becoming more equal was the blacks to fight in the


World War. For the first time they were looked upon as war veterans instead of


black slaves. Although progress was beginning a black man named Garvey believed


that the whites would never change, because of this he started an association


called "Back to Africa". At the coming of the Second World War, blacks


participating in the war were being more important positions than ever before.


    Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to make a strong contribution to


the Civil Rights movement. He had signed a declaration that stated no one could


be discriminated in the work place and other areas based on race. Also the high


court passed a law that enabled black children to have the same education


opportunities as white children.


    It was in December 1955 that Rosa Parks made a big step for civil rights by


doing a very small but courageous thing. She was arrested for not giving up her


seat to a white man on a bus, which broke one of the many Jim Crow laws....