ernoon of Thursday, December 1, 1995, Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man and was arrested. This simple action of dominance and defiance began one of the most important struggles in American history. As the small yet strong-willed woman was hauled off to jail, word of her refusal spread throughout the country. People of all races and ages were inspired by her actions and the news traveled through telephone lines and word of mouth like rapid fire. Little did Mrs. Parks know that she had just officially started the Civil Rights Movement.Rosa Parks was a very prominent figure in the fight for civil rights along with many other respectable African-American men and women. One of the most influential leaders of the movement was none other than Martin Luther King, Jr. King was a nonviolent protester, preacher and organizer of the Civil Rights Movement. He believed in nonviolent resistance to oppression and led many protests against racism. He challenged the nation’s fundamental priorities and emphasized the fact that the civil rights laws were empty without “human rights (Cohen, Solomon).” The laws were hollow toward those who were too poor to eat at a nice restaurant or afford a decent home. Instead of focusing on the racial issue, King Jr. focused on bringing blacks and whites together by fighting the gaps between rich and poor. He called for radical changes in our society to redistribute the wealth and power. King’s main point in his campaign was that “true compassion” is what this country needed and is what he fought for. Another immensely influential figure in the Civil Rights Movement was Malcolm X. Although his approach was completely opposite that from Martin Luther King, Jr., the two dignified and determined men helped each other in fighting for equality. Malcolm X had a rough life as a child. His father was beaten and killed when he was only six years old ...
