
“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” American statesman and retired four-star United States Army General Colin Powell is known for this inspiring quotation. You cannot simply arrive at a final destination without putting in the hard work and dedication beforehand. An individual must have a tireless work ethic and a strong passion to give up his time for a cause much greater than himself. If someone wants great results, put in the time and effort. The two photographs I have selected to analyze represent this arduous journey from point A to point B. The first photograph is of the march from Selma to Montgomery. It depicts a large crowd gathered with signs, each individual dressed the same, leading their way to the state capitol building. The second photograph captures the White House conference room where former President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These practices, pictured in the first photograph, represent the road it took for higher authority to act, represented through the White House picture. Both images connect to the larger picture and time period which is better known as the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, the African American population placed a great deal of pressure upon the national government, forcing it to take action and ultimately draft new legislation.

To begin, thousands of fearless advocates guided under strong leadership helped the African American community have their voices heard nationwide. The Civil Rights Movement started off as a series of peaceful protests, a culmination of different actions taken in a nonviolent manner. Despite the intention behind these acts of civil disobedience, the response was not always calm and collective. For example, one form of protest was the Sit-In movement, which began in Greensboro, North Carolina, in February of 1960. African American students who were part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) would sit at lunch counters and wait until they were served (which they never were). Another tactic used to protest was seen through the Freedom Rider Movement, which began in May of 1961 under the leadership of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. These rides were “designed to force southern officials to honor a recent Supreme Court decision that had called for the ending of racial segregation in interstate bus terminals” (Patterson). These movements began in Washington D.C. and went as far south as New Orleans. However, violence soon followed, and one bus was bombed while in transit, injuring most riders. Perhaps the most common and easiest way to participate in protest came through the form of marches or peaceful rallies. Two of the most famous were the March on Washington and the March from Selma to Montgomery, headed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became famous for his unforgettable “I Have a Dream” speech after the March on Washington, where he spoke to a crowd of approximately 200,000 people. The Civil Rights Era featured strong leaders and different groups all joined together under one common goal: equal rights for all.

By taking a closer look at the photograph of the March to Montgomery, one is better able to fully understand the types of successful protest used throughout the Civil Rights Movement. To start off, the group in the photograph is primarily comprised of African American citizens. Although there are only a few Caucasian people present, this does not mean that most did not support the efforts of the African American community. In fact, there are three Caucasian men located in the front row, representing their involvement and leadership in such protest. Taking a closer look at the individuals pictured in the front row, it appears that they all have their arms linked together, perhaps representing unity and strength. Martin Luther King Jr. is present at the march, and his presence alone speaks to the importance of this cause. The writing on the signs being held demand job opportunities, equal voting rights, and the desegregation of public schools, to name a few. Those participating not only want to be seen as equal under the law, but they going further and pointing out flaws in an unfair society. The March from Selma to Montgomery was a very important event that took place during this time, along with the Greensboro Sit-ins in 1960 and the Freedom Riders in 1961. In fact, “By May 1961, the first interracial freedom rides from Washington, DC, to New Orleans were underway, designed to force southern officials to honor a recent Supreme Court decision that had called for the ending of racial segregation in interstate bus terminals” (Patterson). These different forms of protest might not have had immediate impacts on the government, but their importance would be recognized in the near future.

The White House Conference room photograph sheds light on the successful efforts of the African American population to put an end to segregation as it captures the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. There are a decent number of people gathered in the group, comprised of both Caucasian and African American men who are most likely politicians or activists. Once again, Martin Luther King Jr. is present, as he was the primary peacemaker between the protesters and higher government authority. The impact Martin Luther King Jr. had on the government is remarkable especially since “…the political system is not particularly open to challengers, even under the most favorable circumstances” (Andrews and Gaby 512). It is also interesting that he is located directly behind President Johnson in this photograph, signifying his importance and influence during the movement. Looking with a keener eye, the facial expressions of those present portray a moment that will forever go down in history. There is a clear overwhelming joy and feeling of accomplishment. Not only was the Civil Rights Act passed, but the Civil Rights Movement had a much greater impact on the government. Best represented in the chart titled “Executive and Congressional Action Related to Race, 1960–1964,” we can see the overall increase in presidential executive orders, presidential speeches, and congressional hearings spanning from the beginning of the movement until 1964 (Andrews and Gaby 514). The government was forced to acknowledge the protestors and their calls for equal rights, and ultimately took action to prevent chaos from spreading nationwide.

Parallel to the ideas of Colin Powell, an ultimate goal will only be accomplished through hard work, passion, and dedication. The tireless efforts of the African American population fighting for equal rights under the law is best depicted in these photographs. In the March on Montgomery photograph, we see the efforts being made by African Americans to fight for their rights. As we see in the White House photograph, this hard work has finally paid off, as new legislation was drafted and passed to provide equal rights for all citizens in the United States. The country was warned about a new Black Power that might emerge, where “Negro demonstrators will no longer ask whites for equal rights, but will instead demand them...” (Altbach 234). The United States government responded to all of the noise, best depicted through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Twenty-Fourth Amendment, which banned poll taxes in 1964. These photographs vividly emphasize the starting point and finish line of the Civil Rights Movement.

Unquestionably, the increased focus on inequality in society compelled the United States government to respond to the African American population. With the passage of new legislation, African American citizens the closest they have ever been to being considered equal under the law. The two photographs reiterate the struggle they had to go through in order for this dream to in fact become reality, but don’t get anywhere in life without hard work. As we have seen, in the years following this movement as well as present day, racism still does exist. Set off by a disturbing pattern of police violence against young African-Americans, the Black Lives Movement seems to be picking up support each and every day. Unfortunately, it appears as though the racial barrier will never be completely solved, as one side will always find something unfair to point out to higher authority. I don’t believe the day will come in my lifetime when the tension over racism is entirely solved. However, the strides made during the Civil Rights Movement represent hope that one day this country can be completely unified, a day when every individual can look to their right and left and simply say ‘I am proud to be American.’ 
