This paper discusses the MontgomeryBusBoycott of 1955-56, one of the pivotal events in U.S. history, which helped to ignite and shape the Civil Rights Movement.
Abstract This paper explains that the motivating force behind the MontgomeryBusBoycott was a lone African-American woman, Rosa Parks, who defied a well-entrenched law of the period that blacks were required to sit at the back of the bus, to enter the bus through rear doors and to yield their seats to white passengers if seating was limited. The author points out that the young Martin Luther King, Jr. was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), an organization of the various groups that had participated in arranging the boycott, joined forces and named the organization. When it came time to elect a president, King found himself thrust into the position. The paper relates that, while the initial intentions of the busboycott were far from revolutionary, the event gained national and international attention; not only did it elevate Martin Luther King Jr. to the position of de facto leader of the Civil Rights Movement, but also it established his doctrine of non-violent resistance as a primary method by which the movement would enact social change.
From the Paper "On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was told to vacate her seat to allow a white man to sit down. Mrs. Parks was sitting in the eleventh row of the bus, with three other blacks also occupying seats in the row. While the other three black passengers yielded to the drivers demand, Mrs. Parks refused, and was consequently arrested. While her place in history is well established, one author pointed out that "Rosa Parks was not, as some versions of civil rights history would have it, just a simple black woman whose feet were tired from working all day for the white folks.""
Abstract This paper describes the events leading up to the MontgomeryBusBoycott, setting it in a political and historical context.
From the paper:
The MontgomeryBusBoycott was a very significant event in the civil rights movement, which spanned the 1950's and 60's. Prior to the Boycott, Montgomery maintained a rigid pattern of bus segregation. Bus drivers carried guns and had police power to rearrange seating. In 1945, Alabama passed a law (reproduced below) requiring that all bus companies under its jurisdiction actually enforce segregation.
An analysis of Gandhi's influence upon the proceedings of the 1955 MontgomeryBusBoycott in Alabama, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through an analysis of the film, "Boycott".
Abstract This paper examines how the movie, "Boycott", replays the events that became known as the MontgomeryBusBoycott of 1955 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped forward to lead and actively fight for civil rights. It looks at how he chose not methods of violence, but those of active nonviolence, just as Gandhi taught. This paper outlines Gandhi's influence upon Dr. King and compares the steps taken in the Boycott with those of Gandhi's method of satyagraha.
From the Paper "The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi have influenced and touched people all over the world- no better example than Dr. Martin Luther King and the people involved in the Montgomery Bus Boycott that took place in 1955. Gandhi developed and used a philosophy of nonviolence when trying to gain independence of India from Great Britain. This philosophy emphasized truth and love but furthermore it was used as an expression of love and respect towards the enemy, without regarding the person as your enemy. Dr. King adopted this philosophy as the best way to gain acceptance and freedom of Blacks from White America in the 1950?s. One of the most historically significant examples of this nonviolent philosophy can be seen in the way Dr. King handled the community of Montgomery and directed them to boycott the buses without using violence."
Abstract This paper examines Rosa Parks and her role in the MontgomeryBusBoycott. The author analyzes the consequences of her actions and shows how civil disobedience and the refusal to obey an unjust law, was an effective method of dissenting protest. Included is an examination of the effects of these events upon the Civil Rights Movement.
From the Paper "In 1955, Montgomery, AL had a municipal law that required black citizens to ride in the back of the city's buses. That year, Mrs. Rosa Parks, a forty-two year old seamstress, boarded a city bus and sat in the first row of seats in the black section of the bus. The designated white section of the bus was quickly filled and when more white passengers boarded the bus, the driver ordered Mrs. Parks to give up her seat and move back. She refused, and was arrested. When questioned about her actions, Parks replied, ?When I declined to give up my seat, it was not that day, or bus, in particular. I just wanted to be free like everybody else. I did not want to be continually humiliated over something that I had no control over: the color of my skin.? Her courageous act touched off a 381-day bus boycott led by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and helped spark the civil rights revolution that followed."
Abstract This paper traces the origins of the Civil Rights Movement in America, starting with Rosa Parks and the Montgomerybusboycott. The author shows how Parks' act of defiance ultimately led to the involvement of the major leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Martin Luther King. The paper includes a biography of King's life, influences and his impact on civil rights. Also described are some of King's speeches. The paper concludes that ordinary people like Rosa Parks showed the way forward to eventually affect change in American policies toward blacks and whites.
From the Paper "Of course the American Civil Rights Movement had many other origins and precursors. The peak of the Movement's activities was in the period between 1955 and 1965. One of the aims of the movement was achieved with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by congress."
Tags: Rosa, Parks, Montgomery, bus, boycott, civil, rights
From the Paper "Introduction
There is sometimes the misapprehension that the Montgomery Bus Boycott resulted from the random action of Rosa Parks, a working woman who was simply too tired to budge from her seat. This is not an accurate picture of the events leading up to her actions, nor of the woman herself. In the following pages, the intention is to look at the woman and the roots of the boycott.
The Facts
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 with Mrs. Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger who had entered. At that time, not only did "colored" passengers have to sit at the back of the bus, they were also required to relinquish their seats to white passengers.."
Abstract This paper examines leaders such as Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau who have questioned and even disobeyed certain laws for the good of a greater cause and who recognized the value of peaceful protest. It analyzes different types of protests and evaluates whether they are justified.
Outline
Introduction: Theories on the Origins and Nature of Protest
Violent Political Protest
Urban Riots
Assassinations
Revolutions
Terrorism
Peaceful Political Protest
Picketing
Sit-ins
Boycotts History of Protest
Laws Against Protest
Peaceful Leaders
Martin Luther King
"I Have Been To The Mountaintop"
"MontgomeryBusBoycott" (Time Magazine)
"Civil Rights and Social Wrongs?? (AA Review)
Mahatma Gandhi
"The Story of My Experiments with Truth: An Autobiography?
"Community, Violence, and Peace"
Henry David Thoreau
Civil Disobedience
Definition
Applicability to Modern Society
Just Cause, Civil Protest and the Law
Theories on and Approaches to Conflict and its Resolution or Management
Evolution of the Concept of 'Just Cause'
Alternative Means for Achieving Social-Political Change
Non-violence
Is it Effective?
How has it evolved?
Civil disobedience
Legal/Constitutional Restrictions on Breaking the Law for "Just Cause"
Conclusion
From the Paper "While there is certainly no legal or moral justification for violent acts for the sake of change, there are legal and peaceful alternatives to questioning authority available, such as picketing, sit-ins and boycotts. One of the most famous boycotts in protest history was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which constituted the official beginning of the Civil Rights movement. The protest occurred when the black community of Montgomery, Alabama decided that they would boycott the city buses until they were no longer required to give up their seats for whites."
This paper discuses the short story "Azikwelwa", about a 1957 busboycott in South Africa, by the South African writer, poet and journalist James Matthews.
Abstract This paper explains that James Matthews's short story "Azikwelwa" was first published in 1958, reprinted again in 1974, the year of the Mdantsane BusBoycott, in the collection "The Park and Other Stories" and then reappeared in the journal "Grassroots" in 1982 as an example of life in South Africa and as a particular form of political and social propaganda. The author stresses that the political dimension of the story becomes evident when the protagonist, Jonathan, makes the decision to join the protest. At this point, the text stops being merely a journalistic account of this period of massive disturbances. The paper relates that the literary devices used in this short story, such as repetition, ternary rhythms, alliteration and fricatives, are unusual for prose writing, which makes the prose read more like a poem or a song.
From the Paper "In January 1957, a bus boycott under the slogan "Azikwelwa" (or "We shall not ride") was initiated by the people of Alexandra Township near Johannesburg to prevent the imposition of increased transportation costs. In the period 1950 - 1980, many such boycotts took place and the whole transport boycott movement is often linked to Apartheid resistance. Some have also identified it as a consumer and a political protest in a period when South African capitalism was entering in a phase of economic recession. For many, it was a demonstration of working-class solidarity which began with civil disobedience but evolved into a process of creation of a collective consciousness. Hence, the massive boycotts are said to have helped in the formation of South African identity."
Abstract The paper offers an overview of the U.S. boycott of Cuba. The paper examines reasons for the boycott, evaluates the economic sanctions and comments on the consequences for the U.S. and Cuban economy.
From the Paper "This essay reviews the trade boycott of Cuba by the United States. At the outset of this essay, two points must be made and understood. First, the boycott exists in the form of sanctions. The sanctions affect trade in that among others things the sanctions prohibit most trade between Cuba and companies based in the United States. (Thomchick Young Ruamsook)"
Abstract The paper discusses transportation issues and focuses on bus rapid transit as a transport option. The paper maintains that it is promising because it is inexpensive, flexible and not much slower then cars. The paper then considers the problems of urban sprawl and car culture.
From the Paper "Traffic congestion is a major problem facing North America. Many solutions have been suggested to this problem. One of the most practical appears to be the use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). According to Jose Luis Moscovich in Designing Transportation Systems for Active Communities, bus transit can help accelerate surface transit operations considerably, particularly when the right kind of rolling stock is deployed (such as low-floor, and articulated vehicles with multiple doors) and combined with a proof-of-payment system."
Abstract The paper evaluates the book ? Why We Can"t Wait", by Martin Luther King Jr., written in 1963. It focuses on Luther King's letter: "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", which is included in the book. The paper looks at Luther King's activities, outlook and message, as gleaned from his book. It attempts to show the book as an expansion of the letter.
From the Paper "Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement beginning with the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. He wrote the book Why We Can't Wait in 1963 at a time when the movement was about to change and become more under his leadership. King made the methods of the Montgomery boycott, non-violent protest, into the hallmark of the movement. The bus Boycott was successful, and after that, King and other leaders turned their attention to other issues. He addresses this effort in this book, includes the full text of his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," analyzes his own tactics and what the movement should be doing, and sets goals to be met."
Tags: letter, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, activities, outlook, message, Civil, Rights, Movement, Montgomery, Bus, Boycott, 1955
From the Paper " The civil rights movement helped prepare America to become a multicultural society. Before the civil rights movement, Americans had believed in the doctrine of "separate but equal." In demanding full integration into society, blacks paved the way for the inclusion of women, disabled people, and other minorities in the American mainstream.
The Montgomery bus boycott of the 1950s was a watershed event in the fledgling civil rights movement. For years, the city bus system in Montgomery, Alabama had been segregated. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a black domestic worker, refused to give up her seat to a white male passenger. Parks was arrested and charged for violating a municipal ordinance. The arrest of Parks, who was a member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), enraged the black community.."
Abstract This paper looks at the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a Southerner who was a legendary figure from his generation and who believed that the wall of segregation could be demolished with the power of love. It looks at how he was an American clergyman, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and one of the key leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement advocating non-violent protest. It shows how he was successful in his challenges during the 1950s and 1960s to end segregation and racial discrimination by persuading many white Americans to support the cause of civil rights in the United States. He was assassinated in 1968, only to be remembered as man who had enough willpower to protest in the struggle for racial justice.
From the Paper "The Montgomery bus boycott went on for over a year, with huge protests among southern blacks. King was focused on a serious appeal to Christian brotherhood and American idealism of equal rights that led to the Whites outside the South to identify with his wants in a positive manner. In February 1956, ruling of the federal court was in favor of the MIA, whereby the city buses were no longer segregated. King founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. This organization comprised of black churches and ministers had the objective of ending racial segregation. King became the president of SCLC and found ways to link the NAACP's legal procedures to end segregation through the courts with other with other SCLC leaders through non-violent protest to end discrimination."
Abstract This paper explains that Montgomery,a veteran of WWII and the Korean War and who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, was a congressman who represented Mississippi's Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives for fifteen terms. The author points out that Montgomery cites, as his proudest accomplishment, the Montgomery G.I. Bill that reformed the original 1947 GI Bill and extended a free college education to America's soldiers in the nation's all-volunteer service; thus, a new breed and brand of college graduate was created. The paper relates that, despite Montgomery's subsequent conservative agenda, he possessed a strong sense of liberalism, supporting extended benefits for those deserving men and women of society who wanted opportunities to better themselves.
From the Paper "During his congressional experiences, Montgomery saw seven presidents come and go. Over the course of his autobiographical work, Montgomery comments on the Presidents he knew. He calls Richard Nixon unpredictable and emotional, but Nixon's vice-president and subsequent successor, Gerald Ford, kind and easy to know. This marks Ford in direct contrast to fellow Southern Democrat Jimmy Carter, whom Montgomery never seemed to really "bond" with, unlike the senior Republican Texan George W. "Pappy" Bush, with whom Montgomery enjoyed a congenial rapport. In fact, although a Democrat, like many Southern "Dixie-crats" Montgomery seemed to feel most comfortable with Ronald Reagan's terms in office."
Abstract The paper relates that Montgomery County was formed in 1779 from Anson County and was named in honor of Richard Montgomery who, in 1775, lost his life at the battle of Quebec in the attempt to conquer Canada. The paper discusses the various prevalent religions in Montgomery County. The paper also looks at the economy and its future prospects.
From the Paper "Religion is more than theology or issues of faith and belief. It is as well an important aspect of the cultural life of a community. For example, in many cases people belong to the particular denomination that they grew up with in their families, especially so in the past. Because of the strong connection between religion and the community life, religious participation is often strongly associated here with the population group that first brought it here . Examples can include the Lutheran faith, in the case of the population originating from Germany and the Presbyterian faith in the case of Scots and Scots-Irish settlers. This assertion is also sustained by the recent growth of Catholic congregations, due to recent immigration waves of individuals of Hispanic origin."
