Civil Rights

Civil rights are those rights are granted to every single person at birth. They are protected constitutionally as fundamental rights that everyone should enjoy. This includes freedom, protection from all kinds of discrimination, the right to equality before the law. All these rights are vital for any healthy and liberal society. But throughout history, especially American history, there were a lot of moments that involved violent behavior and unjust attitudes towards a specific group of people based on prejudices and racist beliefs. One of the most vivid examples is the segregation of black people.

After the Declaration of Independence was signed, all Afro-American people got the same rights as white people. However, it worked only in theory. In reality, the situation didn't change at all. One hundred years passed, but black people still had to suffer like their ancestors did. In his monumental speech "I have a dream", Martin Luther King described the conditions in which Afro-Americans used to live before the Declaration and how they were forced to live in 1963. It turned out that it was absolutely the same and he stressed that by using the words "one hundred years later", which helped to draw the attention of the listeners or readers.

Black people couldn't suffer anymore. There was nothing left for them but to fight for their rights. This lead to the creation of different movements which pursued the same aims and struggled for freedom, something that shouldn't have to be fought for.

The most known U.S. civil rights movement occurred in the 1960s. One of the most visible advocates of nonviolent and direct action as methods of social change was Martin Luther King, an outstanding person, who devoted his whole life challenging discrimination and racism. In the above mentioned speech, he called people not to lose their hope and faith and struggle till the very end because they almost had achieved their aim. King believed that the end to all their sorrows was close and the battle had been almost won. He strongly stated that the moment for a great change had finally come.

In my opinion, King is a hero. He was a great inspiration to his people back in that time and helped a lot to change the situation for the better. But what he did was only the beginning. It resulted in building a unique nation where all people are equal and have the same rights. I guess King's dream came true.

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