The Civil Rights Act of
1964 was one of the major turning points in history. It started America on the
path towards equality that we are still fighting towards today. Nowadays,
people seem to forget the significance of the Civil Rights Act—the changes it made
and the people that struggled for it. Sometimes we need a reminder of why the
Civil Rights Act was (and remains) one of the most important laws ever made.
The
Civil Rights Act of 1964 was first proposed by President John F. Kennedy—the
idea was to end segregation between races once and for all. It banned all
instances of public displays of segregation and discrimination from employers. Although
the United States had been working strongly towards ending segregation since
1955, the Civil Rights Movement desperately needed infrastructure. The
government, in passing the Civil Rights Act, provided a widespread element of approval
and the aspect of enforcement that the Civil Rights Movement previously lacked.
By banning segregation in places that the government could enforce, Kennedy
gave the United States the final nudge it needed to get on the path to true
equality. Although the Civil Rights Act was not the beginning of the
revolution, it remains one of the most important laws in the history of the
United States—the landmark that signaled the beginning of the end and the start
of a generation striving to end inequality.
The
United States has a long history of discrimination—even before we were the
United States, colonists demonstrated their elitist mind-set by portraying
Native Americans as heathens and vicious savages. Today, the battle is still
being fought. Even in contemporary times, racial discrimination exists—though
not as prominently as before. Of course, we also face different kinds of
discrimination. Discrimination against those of different sexual orientations,
discrimination against sexes, and discrimination against those of different
religions happen on a day-to-day basis. Stereotypes against women have been
around since Aristotle and tensions between people of different religion and
people of different race have existed since the beginning of time. Beliefs that
reflect these are keeping us from reaching that societal model of equality. Why
are those who keep us from a social ideal doing so? What can we do to stop
discrimination? These are very important questions each of us should be asking
ourselves every day. To rectify social injustices and possibly answer some of
these questions, perhaps we should put ourselves into someone else’s shoes. Why
does discrimination happen? Conceivably, the answer could be irrational fear.
Instead of using logic and reason to respond to new ideas, people react with
irrational panic at new and scary thoughts—such as the mass anti-Catholic
hysteria in the early 20th century. In every generation there are
those that continue to discriminate, thanks to the teachings of their
forefathers.
But of course, it is not all so bleak. For
every one closed-minded, discriminating bully, there are 10 equally open-minded
and kind people. How can we help discrimination? We can start by educating the
next generation about the history of discrimination and the importance of
equality. We can ensure that these radical ideas are no longer quite so new and
scary. The Civil Rights Movement is a parallel to today—although, at the moment
our own revolution isn't quite as volatile. The government could not have passed
the Civil Rights Act if the people did not first start their own protest 1955. We
cannot wait for the government to change us—we must start our own revolution to
bring about change. The government can pass laws to supplement change, like
Kennedy did with the Civil Rights Act, but ultimately, those who bring change
in society are the common people. Do everything you can in your everyday life
to change the social norm of discrimination. We must always remember to keep an
open mind—to not act in haste. To think before we condemn. We can work towards
a more equal America, nay, a more equal world,
if we all work together as a united people! Let us change the world together as
one like so many others before us. Vive
la revolution!
