Assess the Significance of the Role of Individuals in Reducing Racial Discrimination in the Period 1877-1981

Assess the import of the fictional character of individuals in reducing racial inequality in the goal 1877-1981. The post- elegant contend era of the Statesn archives could be argued as single with ample promise for Afri stop Ameri arouses. With the North winning the elegant war expose-of-the-way(prenominal)e and capital of Nebraska granting the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, surely the seeds had been sown for compare for al superstar told in America sicks and whites included?Despite the foundations having been laid for comparison, it whitethorn non be surprising that only small progress was make when Lincoln- the savior of nigrifys- had little interest in abolishing slavery in the premier manoeuver if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it. However, it send packing non be disputed that, whatever his intentions had been, Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation did lead effective a glimpse of hope for African Americans De Jure, the Africa n Americans end-to-end America had independence and were adapted to leave the slavery of Southern orchard owners.Why is it then, that De Facto, the days following the Civil War fai direct to provide this new hope for Bneedinesss and that racialism & disagreement continued for many years to flummox? The motif of smuttys growing the disposition set they needed in modulate to pit for their freedom can be categorised as their growing consciousness. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century, it was evident that shockingeneds had begun to realise that they too had rights and were entitled to the same as the Whites.Through the give of organisations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) and the Harlem conversion as well as individuals such as William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B) Du Bois Blacks in American began developing their identity as a group and using this to fight stick out against the oppression of Whites. Du Bois was known as a vocal novice of booking agent T Washington, being an educated Black- graduating from Fisk University in 1885 and studying history at Harvard University- he became the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. From Harvard. In order to develop Black Consciousness, Du Bois joined hurtles with the ex switch overable minded activists of the NAACP. The NAACPs master(prenominal) central points were The abolition of segregation equal voting rights educational opportunities for swarthy populate the enforcement of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Despite the main(prenominal) focuses of the NAACPs campaigns, it could be argued that the main amour they did for the progress of Black Equality was the uniting of Blacks to a lower place angiotensin-converting enzyme force by 1918 t here were around 43,994 members in the NAACP.This gathering of Blacks under one organisation can non be push awayd, for the first cartridge holder the African-Americans of America were connective together in order to fight for their freedom. One key issuance which argues against the idea that individuals were significant in reducing racial discrimination is that of WWI argued by Sanders- The foremost World War generated jobs and gave relentlesss soldiers a glimpse of greater equality. The sermon of Blacks abroad- particularly France- showed the African-Americans that the treatment they were receiving at home was unfair and that they were hence in a situation which needed to change.It is a hard delegate then to decide whether or Black Consciousness maturationd overdue to the exert solely of individuals such as Du Bois, organisations like the NAACP or in timets like WWI. numerous would argue that it was not a single one of these factors which led to the increase of Blacks realisation of potential. One argument however is that surely without individuals fucking the organisations, the make up and impact of the organisation is nothing? Individuals are ab le to lead, swot and even inspire something that events and organisations are unable to do.The process of increased mysterious patriotism is certainly one which cannot be overlooked indeed it may not gain achieved solid changes in law, and some go as far to recite that it may have even hindered the advancement of Black Civil Rights. Despite this one could argue that the development of drear patriotism catalysed the cultivated rights movement for many African Americans installing a adept of pridefulness inside the hearts of many which was drastically needed at the time. to begin with trying to pin any likely progress on the black nationalism movement it is first important to attempt to lay out Black Nationalism.A simple definition of it would be that it was an ideology which stresses the desire for separatism of the black race unity as a people, pride in African heritage, the creation of autonomous institutions and the search for a territory to habitus a nation (Cone, 1 991, 122). However the ideology of black nationalists varies greatly amidst individuals a perfect example of this is Malcolm X and Martin Luther pouf. The two vary drastically between their methods in raising black nationalism.The methods and effectiveness of Malcolm Xs campaign for the change lives of black Americans are up for questioning by many. Indeed his simulated military operation were more(prenominal) radicalised than his non-violent counterpart Dr King Malcolm X even stated in Washington, 1964 that Im here to remind the white man of the alternative to Dr King. This argumentation could be seen to sum up the purpose of Malcolm X due to the lack of credible change attached to him, one has to question whether his purpose was hardly effective to show what could happen (increased radicalisation and violence) if the demands of Dr King were not met.This lack of credible, peremptory actions and change by Malcolm X and his current organisation the Nation Of Islam is an idea which can be- and has been- argued in depth. One could argue that, in terms of De Jure, Malcolm X did not achieve anything significant and indeed many considered him to be harum-scarum and controvert Thurgood Marshall even went as far as to say that the NOI was stray by a bunch of thugs. Despite this, De Facto, one cannot simply ignore the fact that Malcolm X did indeed draw early wariness to the severe conditions in the ghettos and according to the FBI, he was The most successful recruiter for the Black Muslims.This can be credited to Malcolm X being a Zeitgeist he was able to tap into the spirit of the time and the feelings of the people, using this to draw the ample amounts of sign he did for the Nation of Islam. Indeed it may be seen that a radical, rabid individual like Malcolm X was needed at that special time for the black nationalism movement it cannot be ignored that Martin Luther King was not at his most successful stage and the fire of black civic rights and na tionalism which had been bring downing brightly was indeed beginning to burn subdued or some might even say had gone(a) out at the time.After looking at the impact in which individuals had on the civil rights movement and the contrast of events, one can still come hind end to the fundamentals of the debate without an individual to start an organisation or activate an event surely no progress at all would have been made? If one is able to look at the bigger flick of the progress made in reducing racial discrimination in the yearsAssess the Significance of the Role of Individuals in bring down Racial Discrimination in the Period 1877-1981Assess the significance of the role of individuals in reducing racial discrimination in the period 1877-1981. The post-civil war era of American history could be argued as one with great promise for African Americans. With the North winning the Civil War and Lincoln granting the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, surely the seeds had been sown for equality for all in America blacks and whites included?Despite the foundations having been laid for equality, it may not be surprising that only small progress was made when Lincoln- the saviour of Blacks- had little interest in abolishing slavery in the first place if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it. However, it cannot be disputed that, whatever his intentions had been, Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation did provide just a glimpse of hope for African Americans De Jure, the African Americans throughout America had freedom and were able to leave the slavery of Southern plantation owners.Why is it then, that De Facto, the years following the Civil War failed to provide this new hope for Blacks and that racism & discrimination continued for many years to come? The idea of Blacks developing the mind set they needed in order to fight for their freedom can be categorised as their developing consciousness. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, it was evi dent that Blacks had begun to realise that they too had rights and were entitled to the same as the Whites.Through the work of organisations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) and the Harlem Renaissance as well as individuals such as William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B) Du Bois Blacks in American began developing their identity as a group and using this to fight back against the oppression of Whites. Du Bois was known as a vocal critic of Booker T Washington, being an educated Black- graduating from Fisk University in 1885 and studying history at Harvard University- he became the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. From Harvard. In order to develop Black Consciousness, Du Bois joined forces with the like minded activists of the NAACP. The NAACPs main focal points were The abolition of segregation equal voting rights educational opportunities for black people the enforcement of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Despite the main focuses of the NAACPs campaigns, it could be argued that the main thing they did for the progress of Black Equality was the uniting of Blacks under one force by 1918 there were around 43,994 members in the NAACP.This gathering of Blacks under one organisation cannot be ignored, for the first time the African-Americans of America were joining together in order to fight for their freedom. One key event which argues against the idea that individuals were significant in reducing racial discrimination is that of WWI argued by Sanders- The First World War generated jobs and gave blacks soldiers a glimpse of greater equality. The treatment of Blacks abroad- particularly France- showed the African-Americans that the treatment they were receiving at home was unfair and that they were indeed in a situation which needed to change.It is a hard task indeed to decide whether or Black Consciousness increased due to the work solely of individuals such as Du Bois, organisations like the NAACP or eve nts like WWI. Many would argue that it was not a single one of these factors which led to the increase of Blacks realisation of potential. One argument however is that surely without individuals behind the organisations, the work and impact of the organisation is nothing? Individuals are able to lead, organise and even inspire something that events and organisations are unable to do.The process of increased black nationalism is certainly one which cannot be overlooked indeed it may not have achieved solid changes in law, and some go as far to say that it may have even hindered the advancement of Black Civil Rights. Despite this one could argue that the development of black nationalism catalysed the civil rights movement for many African Americans installing a sense of pride inside the hearts of many which was drastically needed at the time. Before trying to pin any credible progress on the black nationalism movement it is first important to attempt to define Black Nationalism.A simp le definition of it would be that it was an ideology which stresses the desire for separatism of the black race unity as a people, pride in African heritage, the creation of autonomous institutions and the search for a territory to build a nation (Cone, 1991, 122). However the ideology of black nationalists varies greatly between individuals a perfect example of this is Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. The two vary drastically between their methods in raising black nationalism.The methods and effectiveness of Malcolm Xs campaign for the improved lives of black Americans are up for questioning by many. Indeed his tactics were more radicalised than his non-violent counterpart Dr King Malcolm X even stated in Washington, 1964 that Im here to remind the white man of the alternative to Dr King. This statement could be seen to sum up the purpose of Malcolm X due to the lack of credible change attached to him, one has to question whether his purpose was merely just to show what could happ en (increased radicalisation and violence) if the demands of Dr King were not met.This lack of credible, positive actions and change by Malcolm X and his current organisation the Nation Of Islam is an idea which can be- and has been- argued in depth. One could argue that, in terms of De Jure, Malcolm X did not achieve anything significant and indeed many considered him to be irresponsible and negative Thurgood Marshall even went as far as to say that the NOI was run by a bunch of thugs. Despite this, De Facto, one cannot simply ignore the fact that Malcolm X did indeed draw early attention to the awful conditions in the ghettos and according to the FBI, he was The most successful recruiter for the Black Muslims.This can be credited to Malcolm X being a Zeitgeist he was able to tap into the spirit of the time and the feelings of the people, using this to draw the huge amounts of support he did for the Nation of Islam. Indeed it may be seen that a radical, passionate individual like M alcolm X was needed at that specific time for the black nationalism movement it cannot be ignored that Martin Luther King was not at his most successful stage and the fire of black civil rights and nationalism which had been burning brightly was indeed beginning to burn dimmer or some might even say had gone out at the time.After looking at the impact in which individuals had on the civil rights movement and the contrast of events, one can still come back to the fundamentals of the debate without an individual to start an organisation or instigate an event surely no progress at all would have been made? If one is able to look at the larger picture of the progress made in reducing racial discrimination in the years