Civil Rights Affect on Literature free essay sample

To most people this question would evoke joyful feelings of patriotism. Most people you would think of freedom, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the belief that in this great nation, people are treated with the thought in mind that all men are created equal. However, until very recently in this country this was not the case. African Americans in this country were the subject of vicious, hateful, racial discrimination. They were treated without a hint of human decency and were segregated from the rest of American society. The South’s â€Å"Jim Crow Laws† forced blacks into â€Å"separate but equal† schools, forced them to eat in different restaurants, stay in different hotels, and even drink from different water fountains. (history. com) In the 1960’s, more and more brave African Americans began to step forward and let their voices be heard in the name of freedom, and through this struggle for freedom, much great American literature was created. The writings at the time of the civil rights movement provided perspective on what black Americans were going through at the time, and also helped educate the masses on what the leaders of this movement felt needed to be changed. One of these books was â€Å"The Autobiography of Malcolm X†. In it, one of the most influential, controversial, outspoken civil rights leaders opens up about his personal life, but also, his beliefs on the issue of race in America. Malcolm was known for his sometimes extreme views on black people reaching equality. However his autobiography was written at a time when he relented slightly on his unwillingness to cooperate with other races. He is quoted in it as saying: â€Å"Despite my firm convictions, I have been always a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth. † (X) A quote like this was greatly important to ease white America’s fear of what people like Malcolm X stood for. Literature such as this book was an eye opener for many people. Without writings such as this, many Americans would see parts of the civil rights movement as a gathering of militant African Americans willing to kill for their freedom. The fact that this man showed his open mind, and the fact that he came to the understanding he had to change, helped turn many people to the cause of black people’s freedom. Another important aspect of writing during this movement, was that for oppressed black people, it could offer an alternative to violent revolution. Just as black people had done with slavery years ago, they needed to write, speak, and preach their struggle, not just rebel without explanation. (history. com) African Americans at the time also needed inspiration from prominent leaders to find the courage to stand up for their rights. In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ’s 1964 book: â€Å"Why We Can’t Wait†, King includes a letter he wrote in a Birmingham jail, after he was arrested for organizing a non-violent protest in the area. (history. om) The letter tries to incite a sense of responsibility in the black community, and preaches that good people can’t stand idly by while injustice reigns. In the words of Dr. King, â€Å"Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a sin gle garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial â€Å"outside agitator† idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. † Quotes like this show the power of writing in times of struggle. Dr. King realized that he needed to get his message across to a vast group of people to achieve any great success. He understood that it took more than a few great speakers and prominent leaders to create any real change. King) This displays how truly important literature was for a movement to gain any momentum. The civil rights movement in America was one of the most impactful events in the country’s history. Leaders who tried to break free from the cycle of oppression and segregation, and fought valiantly for the freedom of themselves and their people, not only changed the world around them, they also wrote, and inspired some of the most important and influential literature of all time. The movement affected literature by allowing voices to be heard. It provided a chance for talented black authors, journalists, and poets to speak out against injustice, and open the eyes of Americans of all races to the struggle of an African American living as a second class citizen, in the same nation that preached of freedom for all people. Authors of the time illuminated the hypocrisy of a supposedly â€Å"free nation† treating black people like animals 100 years after the emancipation proclamation. All in all, the civil rights movement affects literature even until today because it even further emphasized the idea that writing can inspire people to do extraordinary things.