The Democrat Party and the Civil Rights Movement

I identify with the liberal principles espoused in the Democrat Party. The party exhibits a strong commitment to a powerful and noble set of progressive principles and a political philosophy that sets it apart from other parties apart. This essay discusses indivisible fundamental issues equality, increased access to education and health care, and the rule of law which is fundamental to the Democrat party. Second, the essay discusses President Barrack Obama’s leadership with a specific focus on how he reflects my ideological leaning. Lastly, the essay discusses the Civil rights Movement which reflects my political beliefs.

Fundamental Issues

One principle I strongly identify with is the respect for equality. The Democrat party has demonstrated principles, values, and historic commitments to minority groups such as the women, people of color, ethnic and religious minorities, the less privileged, people living with disabilities, the elderly, veterans, those with no access to basic health care, immigrants, and the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community. Our society tend to concentrate power in the hands of a few to the disadvantage of the minority. Democrats have consistently protected the most vulnerable and upheld the sanctity of the individual as the cornerstone of the American society. Commitment to equality is depicted President Kennedy’s notable statement in which he asserted that if a free society fails to save the many who are poor, it cannot hope to save the few who are rich. I strong opine that the true test of a free democratic society is how it treats the most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, the disabled, and other disenfranchised communities. Indeed, America will not deserve to be called a democratic nation if Americans choose to leave behind the most vulnerable.

Furthermore, increased access to better education and healthcare is another issue that speaks to the heart of my Democrat party. I am certain that nothing holds America back more than a divided system of education and healthcare in which some communities have better access to quality education and healthcare than others. Several Democrat leaders have strongly advocated for better education and health care for all Americans. The passing into of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) 2002 is perhaps one the most recent initiatives the party has undertaken to increase access to better education among marginalized communities. President Bush signed the law in 2002, consequently heightening the role of the federal government in holding schools accountable for student outcomes (Hursh 493). By updating the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, NCLB evidenced efforts to reduce the achievement gap between poor and minority students and their advantaged counterparts. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is another notable initiative that seeks to enhanced access to better health care among the poor. Despite criticism, the Obamacare has significantly scaled up health insurance coverage among less privileged Americans (Lanford and Quadagno 620). These and many more other efforts exhibit democrats’ stand on quality education and healthcare for all.

Moreover, the belief in the rule of law further affirms my support for the party. I know a democracy is a system of rule by laws, but not a few individuals in positions of power. The rule of law fosters democracy by ensuring the protection of citizen rights, maintaining order, and limiting the power of the government (Raz 78). The Democrat party members believe that no matter the life situation (social, economic, or political) of an individual, no American is above the law. Democrats have be informed by consistent interpretation of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, constitutional amendments, and other statutes. The party has aggressively championed for gender pay equality, fair wages, environmental protection, and respect for international law and conventions. This commitment is evidenced by the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. President Obama signed into law the law which advocates for equal pay for equal work (Wade and Fiorentino 30). Thanks to the Act, men and women earn an equal salary today.

Leadership

US Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. best reflects my ideological leanings. We have a shared ideology of greater equality for all. King made a lot of efforts to bring greater equality and civil rights for all Americans irrespective of their racial, ethnic, religious, and political affiliation (Larson and Murtadha 134). First, Martin Luther King brought publicity to major civil rights and efforts. There is no doubt that King is one of the staunchest civil rights activists in the U.S. history. His consistent civil rights activities and efforts such as protests, boycotts, marches, and sit-ins contributed largely to the equality, justice and fair treatment many African-Americans enjoy today. His courage is evidenced by his famous quote in which he said that people’s lives begin to end the day they chose to remain quiet about things that matter (Larson and Murtadha 139).

Second, King provided outstanding leadership in the fight against racial discrimination in America. King exhibited greater courage in whatever he believed in (Larson and Murtadha 138). During his mass actions and campaigns, King stood firm against several controversial issues like equal rights and discrimination. He showed marked resilience, determination, and passion by never giving up on his pursuit and educating himself on many prevailing issues. Third, King stressed and encouraged the importance of non-violent campaigns which earned him the Noble Peace price in 1964 (Alderman 101). His nonviolent approach to mass activism influenced the widespread respect and acknowledgment of the civil rights movement achieved in America. These three factors defined the civil rights movement during a time when the country was experiencing a lot of unrest.

Social Movement

The Social Rights Movement present a clear picture of Democrats in action. Despite the abolition of slavery immediately after the civil war, African-Americans continued to be disenfranchised, segregated based on their race, and subjected to unbearable economic oppression (Thornton 41). This state of affairs spurred a series of protests against the prevailing mistreatment and voiced the need for nonviolent protests and civil disobedience. The movement was championed by notable Democrats and civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks, among others.

These leaders launched a series of successful efforts to stem segregation out of America. For example, Rosa Parks launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a successful campaign against racial segregation in transportation in Alabama that stretched from 1955 to 1956 (Thornton 41). Also, some leaders organized marches and sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina, which scaled up the resistance across the country. The 54-mile Selma to Montgomery march is one of the most notable civil rights marches that demonstrated the greater desire of Black Americans to stand up for their constitutional rights, particularly the right to vote. King played a leading role in the establishment of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 which advocated for equality and non-discrimination (Larson and Murtadha 135). I strongly believe that the civil rights movement is the mother of later social movements in America such as the Environment Movement, the Counterculture Movement, the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement, the Gay Liberation Movement, the 99% Pro-Life Movement, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and many more.

Conclusion

Political ideologies in America are marked by different perspectives on how best to achieve fundamental common goals such as limited government, free market, and individual liberty. As a consequent, citizens lean slightly either to the left (eg. the Democrats) or to the right (e.g. Republicans). People connect their opinions and beliefs with broad policy positions political parties or candidates assume. However, I strongly believe that the progressive principles of respect for equality and the rule of law are the fabrics of a democratic society. Every political party should stake out the legal and moral high ground in its commitment to the principles espoused in the Constitution.

Works Cited

Alderman, Derek H. “Street names as memorial arenas: The reputational politics of commemorating Martin Luther King in a Georgia county.” Historical Geography 30 (2002): 99-120.

Hursh, David. ”Assessing No Child Left Behind and the rise of neoliberal education policies.” American educational research journal 44.3 (2007): 493-518.

Lanford, Daniel, and Jill Quadagno. ”Implementing ObamaCare: The politics of medicaid expansion under the affordable care act of 2010.” Sociological Perspectives 59.3 (2016): 619-639.

Larson, Colleen L., and Khaula Murtadha. ”Leadership for social justice.” Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education 101.1 (2002): 134-161.

Raz, Joseph. ”The rule of law and its virtue.” The Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers. Routledge, 2017. 77-94.

Thornton III, J. Mills. ”Challenge and Response in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955–1956.” Alabama Review67.1 (2014): 40-112.

Wade, Michelle, and Susan Fiorentino. ”Gender Pay Inequality: An Examination of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Six Years Later.” Advancing Women in Leadership 37 (2017): 29-36.