The American Civil Rights Movement In The 1960's

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The American Civil Rights Movement in the mid-1950’s to late 1960’s incorporated mass civil protest from African-Americans against racial discrimination, inequalities, segregation, institutional racism, and hate crimes. One of the most influential campaigns to occur during the Civil Rights Movement was The Birmingham Campaign (1963), which was led by Martin Luther King Jr. As a prominent civil rights leader, Dr. King started the campaign on account of Birmingham's history of egregious treatment and hostility against the African American community. Although civil protests left protestors open to all types of attacks, Dr. King knew that civil disobedience was an appropriate approach, and in fact, a necessary one, for African Americans had moral objections to their government's policies. Moreover, every time Dr. King participated in civil disobedience, he embarked on a journey that risked imprisonment, verbal and …show more content…
King’s open letter to several clergymen, he defended his nonviolent resistance against racism by incorporating biblical truths with the need for every human being to be treated equally under the law regardless of one’s race. Furthermore, Dr. King drew an analogy between his pursuit of racial equality and the Apostle Paul’s missionary journey. Likewise, just as Paul was imprisoned for unashamedly voicing the gospel of Jesus Christ, so was Dr. king detained for unapologetically fighting for and declaring the truth that all people are equal in the eyes of God. As stated in Galatian 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (New International Version). Essentially, the characteristics of Dr. King corresponds with biblical teachings for the Bible extols the value of justice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9,