The Civil Rights Movement

             The momentum of the previous decade's civil rights gains led by rev.
             Martin luther king, jr. carried over into the 1960s. but for most blacks,
             the tangible results were minimal. only a minuscule percentage of black
             children actually attended integrated schools, and in the south, "jim crow"
             practices barred blacks from jobs and public places. New groups and goals
             were formed, new tactics devised, to push forward for full equality. as
             often as not, white resistance resulted in violence. this violence spilled
             across tv screens nationwide. the average, neutral american, after seeing
             his/her tv screen, turned into a civil rights supporter.
             Black unity and white support continued to grow. in 1962, with the
             first large-scale public protest against racial discrimination, rev. Martin
             luther king, jr. Gave a dramatic and inspirational speech in washington,
             d.c. After a long march of thousands to the capital. the possibility of
             riot and bloodshed was always there, but the marchers took that chance so
             that they could accept the responsibilities of first class citizens. "the
             negro," King said in this speech, "lives on a lonely island of poverty in
             the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity and finds himself an exile
             in his own land." King continued stolidly: "it would be fatal for the
             nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the
             determination of the negro. this sweltering summer of the negro's
             legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn
             of freedom and equality." when King came to the end of his prepared text,
             he swept right on into an exhibition of impromptu oratory that was
             catching, dramatic, and inspirational.
             "I have a dream," King cried out. the crowd began cheering, but king,
             never pausing, brought silence as he continued, "i have a dream that one
             day on the red hills of georgia the sons of former sla...

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