Blog- #2 Social Problems Process

Background

In the 60’s the city of Birmingham, Alabama had been known to be a violent racially segregated city. The city lacked black representatives, the right for blacks to vote, and the ability for blacks to live peacefully among their white neighbors. Crimes against blacks was at an all-time high and bombings in particular was the violent act of choice. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, at the African American 16th Baptist Church, there was a bombing that would forever change the hearts and minds of those living in Birmingham, Alabama. The bombings came as a result of four members of the Ku Klux Klan planting sticks of dynamite beneath the steps of the church. The explosion concluded with four young ladies, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Denise McNair losing their life after a senseless act.

Claims-making

During this time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist, was one of the most prominent individuals that brought awareness to this issue. He described this incident as, “one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” He was angered by what had happen at the 16th Street Baptist Church. This was a place that was supposed to be sacred to the blacks of the community, but instead it was used to destroy them. At the funeral of the young ladies Martin Luther King made a point to address the issue at hand. With the reading of the eulogy he stated, “The spilled blood of these innocent girls may cause the whole citizenry of Birmingham to transform the negative extremes of a dark past into the positive extremes of a bright future.” He wanted to inform people of the problems that had preexisted before this tragic incident. King wanted the people of Birmingham to realize that change had been needed for a long time. With the bombing and death of the young girls, the time for change had arrived.

As we all know the Alabama Church bombing was a very sad time to endure. This murderous act was committed by the Ku Klux Klan on September 15, 1963, killing four young girls. It shocked the world and urged the Civil Rights Movement.

Due to this hyperlink being copyright, I am not able to post pictures from the website. You are more than welcome to visit the link to see the newspaper clips from that day.

http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/529

This is a short video talking about the day and what happened to the Ku Klux Klan members. There are also monuments in dedication of the four girls in Birmingham, Alabama.

Public Reaction

Martin Luther King Jr.’s anger fueled him to go to the funeral of the girls that were involved in the Alabama Church Bombing. Since one of the girls parents decided to have a private family funeral, King spoke at the combined funeral of the other three little girls. There he spoke to over 8,000 people. His speech scattered outrage over the country for the mourning of these four little girls.

This in turn cause the March form Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. There were prior marches that took place there in which people face significant brutality from white police, but this march in particular was the one that made history. People form all over the country went to Selma to participate. A number of people made the marched of 54 miles, arm in arms to the capital in Montgomery. People from all around the world watched as these people made their three days journey to the capital. When the achieved their goal, Dr. King made a speech in which to raise awareness on the difficulty in which black voters had been facing when it came to registration to vote. He also spoke of the strides they were making to unity and create a peaceful, equal society.

This in turn cause the March form Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. There were prior marches that took place there in which people face significant brutality from white police, but this march in particular was the one that made history. People form all over the country went to Selma to participate. A number of people made the marched of 54 miles, arm in arms to the capital in Montgomery. People from all around the world watched as these people made their three days journey to the capital. When the achieved their goal, Dr. King made a speech in which to raise awareness on the difficulty in which black voters had been facing when it came to registration to vote. He also spoke of the strides they were making to unity and create a peaceful, equal society.

Policymaking

The after math of the Alabama bombing was sad but filled with hope as light came from the darkness. This light was created from all the support that was built from the outrage over the four young girls that were killed during the bombing. Two major Acts were passed with the help of this event the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned segregation from race, religion, and national origin in public places. As well the Act brought action on race, religion, national origin, and gender discrimination by employers and labor unions and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to fight for these people that were a victim of this. Then the Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to erase legal barriers that prevented African Americans from voting such as the use of literacy test and poll taxes. Both of these Acts helped set America on the path to where we are today. 

Social Problems Work and Policy Outcomes

The Voting Rights Act gave African-American voters the legal means to challenge voting restrictions and improved voter turnout. In Mississippi alone, voter turnout among blacks increased from 6 percent in 1964 to 59 percent in 1969. Since its passage, the Voting Rights Act has been amended to include such features as the protection of voting rights for non-English speaking American citizens.

As an outcome the Voting Rights Act was praise for being one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever passed by Congress to make all citizens equal. It allowed all minorities across the United States, the opportunity to be apart of the voting process. Being able to vote allows us to choose who we want in office and try to make a difference in the society we live in.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed the way that our nation looked at the value of a person. Although this act did not end racism it gave African Americans a voice and a sense of ease while going through their everyday life. The outcome of both Acts where positive, but what African Americans had to go through to get basic humans rights is troubling to say the least.