Local People

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the central character of the civil rights movement with reference to the book "Local People" written by John Dittmer. The paper discusses how fundamentally, the civil rights movement was a fragmented movement nationwide, divided largely over the issue of agitation and violence. The paper adds that locally, it often fell to ordinary people to fight for the cause of equal rights.

From the Paper:

"The fundamental significance of John Dittmer's "Local People" is that it documents the strides that seemingly powerless individuals within society can make towards reaching their dreams through sheer perseverance and toughness. In Mississippi, unlike most other southern states, the struggle for civil rights was truly a grassroots movement. Although this term is routinely thrown around regarding the movement, in very few notable cases was the battle for equal rights for black Americans brought together purely by "local people." Essentially, much of the civil rights movement in the mid portion of the twentieth century was organized and led by members of larger organizations; the NAACP, the SNCC, the SCLC and the Nation of Islam being the most public of these. However, Dittmer's central theme is that ordinary people are capable of significantly changing American society and that grassroots movements can succeed."

More papers on Local People:

• Analytical Essay # 144519 : "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town" and "Local Hero"
• Research Proposal # 92588 : "Transparency And Accountability In Local Governments"
• Essay # 68661 : "Globalization and Local Culture"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: