Oral+History

Civil Right dominated the 1950s and the early 60's. One way supporters of the movement showed their feelings was by participating in marches for the cause. Some of the larger marches included thousands of people from many backgrounds and featured speakers and news coverage such as the March on Washington. Other marches, such as the Selma to Montgomery marches, became violent. The United States government was under much strain at the time of the Civil Rights Movement, so they were unable to control the marches or the actions of those who didn't agree with the marchers and resorted to violence. The March on Washington and Selma to Montgomery marches were large scale affairs with many people and much attention with the public and in the media, but most of the marches were much smaller scale. Cities across the country had hundreds of protestors marching down the street, pleading for equality, which for many seemed farther away than it really was. The marches caught the attention of many for they showed the diversity of those who believed in Civil Rights and integration. The Marches had a positive effect on the Act in Washington, for it was passed not long after the marches made the way to our nation's capitol.

The marches were often organized by groups such as NAACP SNCC, CORE and SCLC. These groups also organized other forms of petitioning segregation such as boycotts and sit-inns. The real goal of these missions was to catch the attention of the public and show them how important civil rights will be across the country. eventually the worked payed off and the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964.

As the years continued the marches did as well. Into the lated 1900s people continued to march for different types of civil rights in minorities such as women's right as my interview subject did. These marches were slightly different than the ones that happened in the past because of changes in technology. Most important marches could be televised, which brought more awareness to the issue. Civil RIghts had also become more widespread by that time as Americans had realized that integration was easier than expected and became more open minded towards other forms of change.

media type="youtube" key="yybLn-VHuns" height="344" width="425" News report from the March on Washington in 1963

media type="youtube" key="5-7wMBQahcA" height="344" width="425" Video about the history of women's rights


 * Works Cited**
 * //Creating America: A History of the United States//. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2002. Print.

"March on Washington." Web.17 May 2009. . ||  || "What we Do." //Women for Women// Web.16 May 2009. .

"Women's Rights." //Time Archive// Web.16 May 2009. .