As you all know, Martin Luther King Day is coming up on Monday. While we have not studied the Civil Rights Movement in depth yet in this course, we examined it indirectly in our military history, especially with regard to Vietnam. Black men were disproportionately drafted into the armed services during the Vietnam conflict, and this certainly fueled the civil rights conflict at home. Consider the fact that both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy (brother to JFK, presidential hopeful, and civil rights advocate) were assassinated in 1968, which is the same year that the Johnson administration kicked up the escalation plan in Vietnam.
How much was the Civil Rights movement a reflection of the general instability of the 1960s? Consider how the Vietnam conflict demonstrated the weaknesses within the United States.
It is hard to decide to what extend the Civil Rights movement was a "reflection" of the 1960's instability. However, coming from the perspective of someone who doesn't know much about history, I would argue that the overall gist of the 1960's definitely had a big impact. This is also exemplified in the Vietnam conflict, so we can see how certain areas in history affect others.
ReplyDeleteI think the Civil Rights movement can be seen as a reflection of the instability of the 1960s. We know that there was a lot of tension and riots in the 1960s due to Vietnam. Black people in particular were upset because it was common for them to be sent to the war. During the unit we did on Vietnam, we talked about things that were going on in the US. There were a variety of views on Vietnam and a lot of chaos. Prejudice was a major issue in the 1960s and during the war, so that is shown in the Civil Rights movement.
ReplyDeleteI believe that when you compare the civil rights to the general instability of the 1960's. You will find many parallels however the main thing that I think is similar is the tension. I find that there was loads of tension in the 1960's because of the drafts. And nobody wanted to be picked or have their loved ones picked. And obviously there was tension in the civil rights because of the fact that nobody knew the outcome.
ReplyDeleteI think that the instability of the time period allowed the Civil Rights Movement to surface to some extent. I do think that things such as the disproportional drafts exposed the remaining inequalities that Black Americans were still facing. However, I do not think the entire Civil Rights movement was jumpstarted solely due to the tension and instability that was present in America at the time. I think it also had a lot to do with how the country was modernizing and moving away from 'traditional" mindsets, therefore it was only time to address questions of civil rights and equality.
ReplyDeleteI think you basically said it in that the draft was unfairly distributed bring closer attention to the civil rights movement and this resembled the instabilities in the 60's. Along with the young "revolutionaries" fighting the war and doing drugs and the general rebellion against the older generation which were much more "pro-America" and therefore pro war. Essentially, things have a tendency to have to get messier before they can come back together again.
ReplyDeleteVietnam was a general reflection of the civil rights instability in the 60's due to the fact that many black people were discriminated against. having whole squads of young black men dying for a cause that the "white man" believed in but nobody else did really upset the general public.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil Rights movement was a reflection of the Vietnam instability because it stemmed from the youth and their political conflicts with being drafted and fighting for a cause that essentially has nothing to do with the US. The '60's were centered around acting out, making a difference, and being responsible for making a change and taking a stand. A lot is overshadowed by drug use, etc. but the time period was fundamentally built on something much more.
ReplyDeleteSomehow i think of Bubba while i was reading the guidelines of the post.As far as i know african american soldiers are drafted at the time and fighting in different units with white soldiers. Black fellows are discriminated harshly at the time, domestic instability was reflected by the Vietnam war because the brightest and strongest generation of he country are fighting for a war that does not necessaryly has anything to do with America.
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