American social movements and the 1960s

The 1960s and Social Change Movements

The 1960s saw the emergence of numerous social change movements in America for a number of interconnected causes. First of all, because of the federal government’s influence on Americans’ everyday lives, they looked to it for solutions to their problems. Second, the conclusion of World War 2 helped America become a major player on the international stage, putting it in conflict with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Both moral and political crusades were waged in the competition with the goal of persuading people all over the world that the Western Democracy is better to the Communist system. Thirdly, the movements cropped up since the periods were of relative economic prosperity in the country hence there was also economic disparity. Another cause was the emergence of a national culture that linked Americans closely together. Finally, there was an increase in the number of students who attended college as opposed to the period before the World War 2. The increment created a concentration of educated and concerned activists by colleges and universities.

The Freedom Movement

This movement consisted of the strategies and groups in America that aimed at ending the racial discrimination and segregation that were done against the African Americans. Further, the movements focused on securing federal protection and legal recognition of the rights of citizenship as provided in the federal law and the Constitution.

The iconic image of the movement

The above iconic image of the movement was taken in Washington as the participants and leaders marched to the Lincoln Memorial as they came from the Washington Monument (Goldfield 17). The march named March on Washington led to several achievements by the group and changes that they pressed for making this picture iconic. For instance, the walk led to the legalization of interracial marriages and the ratification of the Constitution and amendments. Also, it led to the formation of agencies that defended the freedom and rights of all the Americans regardless of the color.

Exemplification of the movement

In fact, in the image, the leaders of the movement are in the fore rank and are holding their hands that provoke the emotions of togetherness and strength. The fact that some of them even laughed in such a situation depicted the confidence they had in winning the freedom they wanted bestowing to all of the American citizens. The acts by the leaders of holding hands, some laughing and also being in the fore rank in the march that was deemed satisfactory exemplifies the movement. Besides, the exemplification of the movement is also portrayed in the manner in which the participants follow their leaders carrying placards with different writings on them.

The Young Americans for Freedom

As the image presents young people, some even carrying bags, shows that they must probably be students (Barnaba 9). Therefore, the movement began as an organization that ideologically involved conservative activism of the youth. Notably, it was founded as a coalition that was between those who were libertarians and the traditional conservatives on the college campuses of America. Importantly, the movement was purposed with the advocating for the public policies in line with the Sharon Statement that the young conservatives adopted in Connecticut.

Exemplification of the movement

The image’s contents like the messages written in the placards, the environment in which it was taken and the young men and ladies who were vigorously protesting against discrimination make it iconic. Moreover, the picture was captured in one of the streets of Washington as the activists and participants from several campuses met to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the discrimination in the colleges. The vigor portrayed in the protesters moves exemplified as the young people went to the streets to ensure the undoing of the wrong societal attributes.

The Brown Power Movement

Markedly, it involved civil rights movement that had the goal of ensuring the empowerment of the Mexican Americans. It also fought for the restoration of land, enhancement of education, the rights of farm workers, both political and voting rights, and the emergence political history awareness. It was against the social adverse ethnic stereotypic actions. The Mexican Americans felt they were dishonored and not given an equal chance both politically and even in the society as a whole. Therefore, through their leaders formed the movement and dedicated themselves to ensuring their voices were heard.

Exemplification of the movement

The images show that was captured in the South-western part of America shows Cesar Chavez who was one of the leaders of the movement together with demonstrators in a protest (Stefani 21). They used boycotts, demonstrations, and school walkouts to express the dissatisfaction of the discrimination they faced in America. Mainly, the picture elicits the interest that the movement had in being treated equally as the other Americans which also exemplifies the movement in acting appropriately to achieve its goal.

The Black Power Movement

Similar to the other movements, this one was also both political and social. It was founded at the time when being black in America meant negative things like a slave, less fortunate, and unequal to the other colors. Consequently, the movement advocated strongly for the racial pride of the black, the feeling of self-sufficiency despite one’s color and also the equality that cut across all citizens both black and white. First, they started with the coordination of nonviolent protests which later changed when the movement had several branches as the Nation of Islam, the Black Panther Party and others.

Exemplification of the movement

The image shows Stokely Carmichael who was the secretary coordinator of the black activists giving a speech in one of the occasions they met for nonviolent protests hence making the image an iconic one (Tinson and Christopher 14). Additionally, the keenness that can be seen to be held by the people show their interest in the speech and their probable hope in their leader. There is also a depiction of the people’s need for freedom since they mobilized and assembled at the headquarters. Later, the formation of different groups showed the insufficiencies in desegregation and the resolution of destroying the white power structure in a bid to make space for their political voice as blacks.

The Antiwar movement

The movement was a social one that concentrated to mainly opposing the country’s decisions of either to start or even carry on with any of the armed conflicts regardless of the whether there could be a just cause for the arrangements. It was the opposition to all use of America’s military power during her battle with other nations for any reason. Notably, the activists of the anti-war movement pressured the government through grassroots means and protests for the government to stop a conflict or war. It is noted to have been one of the most substantial movements which was almost across all the nation. Furthermore, the movement consisted of the middle-class suburbs, the college campuses, government institutions and labor unions. It encompassed the racial, political, and the cultural spheres.

Exemplification of the movement

The image above as indicated was taken in Washington D.C showing a quarter million people who gathered to demonstrate against the war that was going on in Vietnam. The number of the protesters itself spoke of the power of the movement. The figure also moves exemplified and elicits the interest in the vigor of this particular movement. In as much as the Americans had believed it was a right move to defend the South Vietnam from the communists at the beginning of the war, the weariness that came with the war led to the additional participants into the movement. The previously small anti-war movement proliferated into a significant unstoppable force as a result of the people’s fatigue caused by the intense war. Another reason for the exemplification of this movement through the significant support was the mounting casualties and death tolls that increased on a daily basis. Further, the war’s cost escalated as the stabilizing American economy was shaken.

In conclusion

In conclusion, the 1960s in the United States encountered the highest number of movements that cropped up and where both political and social. The country had a high level of discrimination for the non-white Americans which was one cause of a large number of movements formed to help air the interest and grievances of the participants or the group of people who were affected by the same. There was also the movement that became stronger than due to the conflict whose cost was clear to all the Americans.

Works cited

Barnaba, Joel. “”Young Americans For Freedom.“” Patterns Of Prejudice, vol 5, no. 5, 2003, pp. 17-18. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/0031322x.1971.9969017.

Goldfield, David. “How The Civil Rights Movement Defined And Defied The 1960S.” Humanetten, no. 8, 2015, Linnaeus University, doi:10.15626/hn.20010808.

Stefani, Anne. “Sounds Of Freedom: Songs In The 1960S Southern Civil Rights Movement.” Complutense Journal Of English Studies, vol 23, no. 0, 2015, Universidad Complutense De Madrid (UCM), doi:10.5209/rev_cjes.2015.v23.49358.

Tinson, Christopher M. “”The Voice Of The Black Protest Movement:” Notes On Theliberatormagazine And Black Radicalism In The Early 1960S.“ The Black Scholar, vol 37, no. 4, 2008, pp. 3-15. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/00064246.2008.11413417.