Research Into the African Civil Rights Movement

Ralph Abernath, a civil rights activist, once said, “I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” The African American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's had far-reaching effects on American culture; the impact of this movement is reflected in the works of African Americans such as Jackie Robinson's baseball career, Alex Haley's television mini-series, Roots, and Toni Morrison's novels. Segregation is the separation of a minor group from another group. This act began in the Civil War Reconstruction era. Southerners treated the African American as scapegoats for the economic problems the South was having (Jordan 394). The horrible treatment of African Americans sparked the struggle for equality between whites and blacks. Sporting leagues began to see the emergence of African American dominance, television series began to feature the lives of African Americans, and authors began to express their opinions by writing literature about the struggles of African Americans.

Before the 1960's, sporting leagues would be separated. Separate leagues would be created for African Americans and the rest of the population would join another league. The first to have, “shattered baseball's color barrier and [change] the face of the nation,” was Jackie Robinson (Aaron 1). Jackie Robinson set the stage for the African American Civil Rights Movement. Before entering the National Baseball League, he played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League (Nightingale 1). He furthered his career by joining the Montreal Royals of the Minor Leagues of Baseball in 1946 (Nightingale 1). He finally broke the sporting color barrier in1947. He was brought up to the National Baseball League to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers as a First Baseman and a Second Baseman (Nightingale 1). He had several achievements for excellent play in the National Baseball League. In 1947, he was the first African American to receive the Rookie of the Year award and in 1956, he received the Spingarn Medal, which is awarded to those who work to help find equality for African Americans (Nightingale 1). Jackie Robinson was the barrier breaker for African Americans into the sporting world. Without Jackie Robinson, it would have difficult to find someone to start the Civil Rights Movement. His actions were pre-Civil Rights Movement and influenced the start of the revolution for African Americans. Jackie Robinson was an important, “spokes person and fund-raiser for the Civil Rights Movement” (Kranz 1).

Television is a big influencer of American society. Alex Haley was the author of a historical fiction novel called Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The story was a compilation of 12 years of research of the Haley family; His family began in the 1700's (Toppin 1). The story showed the struggles of his family in America as slaves and as free men. His family was moved to America when Kunta Kinte was kidnapped from Gambia and brought to America as a slave (Toppin 1). The story was fiction because he had made up characters but it was based on true events. His story received the Spingarn Medal and a citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board (Toppin 1). His story was turned into a television mini-series in 1977, which consisted of eight episodes (Williams 1). The television mini-series received the honor of being one of the most watched television programs in history (Williams 1). His story inspired new interests in family histories of African Americans. Television series like Roots allowed others of America to see into the lives of African Americans and the hardships of their life. The stories, “Alex Haley would write would change the way Black Americans look at themselves” (Otfinoski 1).

Toni Morrison, an African American, wrote novels based on history. Her writings were based on and influenced by the African American Civil Rights Movement. Her first novel was the Bluest Eye. It showed the harshness the black women and children had to endure while still in slavery (Williams 1). An excerpt from the book reads, “the pride of ownership that curls her chewing mouth.” It shows the power that owners had over their slaves. Her fifth novel, Beloved, was written in 1987. (Williams 1). It was a historical fiction about freed woman and her past (Williams 1). It showed the horrors of slavery and the murdering of her baby in order to keep the baby out of slavery (Williams 1). Her stories and novels utilize special writing techniques. She is able to persuade readers to accept the unusual as realistic (Williams 1). She writes novels that are based on the troubles of African American women. Her writing influences American society and is still currently read by society's children today.

The African American Civil Rights Movement inspired African American figures such as Robinson, Haley, and Morrison and their works had helped to improve conditions for African Americans. Robinson broke the sporting barriers, Haley created a television mini-series, and Morrison wrote novels based on African American women. Their careers show that African Americans are equal in intelligence and athleticism. They can do anything and should not be treated as sub race like in the past. Other writers and athletes continue to be inspired by the accomplishments of Robinson, Haley, and Morrison and they will continue to improve the future for African Americans. The new generation of African Americans will have a better life in the United States of America due to the works of their ancestors.