Essay Example on Completing the Revolution

Introduction

The United States of America is one of the world’s democracies that has embraced the principles and ideals of equality and freedom for all. However, the nation developed systematic exclusion and suppression of minority groups especially the communities of color (Solomon et.al 2019). For instance, the Jim Crow Laws enacted from 1877 through the mid-1960s seemed to legalize racial segregation and marginalization (Brinkley, 2016). As a result, whites and African Americans would seek services from separate amenities and public offices. Likewise, African Americans were restricted from voting, securing jobs, and accessing education.

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After World War II, President Harry Truman established a committee to investigate racial discrimination in the military, which ensured that personnel from a community of color received recognition like any other American. The transformation in the military brought about a tide of civil rights movements advocating for equality in all spheres of life followed by sequences of Supreme Court ruling in favor of civil rights. Before the civil rights movements, the United States was an ‘unfinished nation’ because communities of color were excluded from the affairs of the country despite having played critical roles played in the development of the nation.

Equal Treatment

For a country to be considered as a ‘finished nation’, they have to ensure that all people are treated equally and have equal rights. The rise of civil rights movements in the 1950s marked the beginning of social and political struggles, with pressure from African Americans bringing the issue of race to prominence (Brinkley, 2016). After serving on battlefields during World War II, African Americans demanded civil liberties at home. By 1960, the issue of equality and racial justice dominated American politics obliging president John Kennedy to address grievances raised by black college students and activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. Other activists such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and DuBois joined the civil right movement (Davidson et.al 2014). Consequently, Civil Rights Movement emerged as one of the most significant events of American history as it served as a model for other minority groups to seek dignity, equality, and inclusion in the affairs of the nation. With such inclusiveness, the United States would develop into a ‘finished nation’ where everyone enjoys his or her rights and freedom.

Civil Rights Movement

With the emergence of the stout Civil Rights Movement, other groups of oppressed people began to demand their rights. For instance, emphasis on human rights across America then motivated women to seek equality in the nation. Initially, women were responsible for home household tasks and bringing up children, but with the rise of the Women’s Rights Movement, there were increased calls for involving women in economic and political affairs. As a result, the American economic revolution saw women and other minority groups take active roles in the workforce (Brinkley, 2016). Today, the prominence of women in revolutionary movements is a major characteristic of progressivism in America.

In recent years, several groups have been airing their grievances and as a democratic nation, America has been granting them their freedom about human rights. For instance, the number of asylum and immigrants in the United States has risen, which has triggered new reforms of the immigration laws. Similarly, the LGBTQ groups are also bold to seek protection from the government against different forms of discrimination (Goodwin, 2019). For this reason, there are numerous court rulings on gay rights as a way of ensuring that all Americans coexist harmoniously. The emergence of more groups seeking equality and protection from the government is an indication that the accomplishments of the Civil Rights era were far from making America a ‘finished nation’.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rise of civil rights movements marked the beginning of an era of inclusiveness and integration to make America a ‘finished nation’. However, historical accounts of segregation and discrimination are still pulling the nation backward towards accomplishing its vision. Cases of racial discrimination and inequality are still dominant across America resulting in the emergence of vibrant movements seeking equal rights and freedom for all. Therefore, my opinion is that America has unfinished businesses that need to be addressed. Segregation of minority groups such as African Americans persists regardless of the progressive policies enacted to promote civil rights.

References

Brinkley, A. (2016). The unfinished nation: A concise history of the American people (8th Ed.). McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.

Davidson, J. W., Lytle, M., DeLay, B., Heyrman, C. L., & Stoff, M. (2014). US: A narrative history, volume 2: Since 1865. McGraw-Hill Education.

Goodwin, S. (2019). The civil rights movement and the media. Communication.
https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199756841-0231

Solomon, D., Maxwell, C., & Castro, A. (2019, August 7). Systematic inequality and American democracy. Center for American Progress.
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2019/08/07/473003/systematic-inequality-American-democracy.