Finally, another point that made John F. Kennedy such a great leader was fighting for equal rights, and arguably this was one of the most important things that he has done throughout his presidency. How did he fight for equal rights? Well first of all, he stood up for the African Americans. On March 6, 1961, he signed Executive Order 10925 which required government contractors to take affirmative action to ensure all employees are treated equally irrespective of their race, creed, color, or national origin. His Executive Order 11063 of November 1962 banned segregation in federally funded housing. These were big steps changing America as a whole. The country that was founded for the freedom of the people was finally starting to become …show more content…
On June 11, 1963, JFK gave his famous civil rights address calling Americans to recognize civil rights as a moral cause. His proposal to provide equal access to public schools and other facilities, and greater protection of voting rights became part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. JFK in a speech to support the African Americans said this, “The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated. If an American, because his skin is dark, cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the public, if he cannot send his children to the best public school available, if he cannot vote for the public officials who will represent him, if, in short, he cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place? Who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay?” But that wasn’t all. It wasn’t only the African Americans that he fought equal rights for, but also the women when he created the Equal Pay Act of 1963. John F. Kennedy signed into law the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to abolish wage disparity based
Changes were also made to the the constitution and a new amendment was made and passed. All of this was a great progress made by the united states of
“I have a dream, that one day my four little children will live in a nation, where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” These words were spoken on August 28 1963 by a man named Martin Luther King, who was a huge leader of the U.S civil rights movement. Martin Luther King believed in equal rights for white and colored people. He also believed that nonviolent protests were the most effective way to change the attitudes of racist and unjust people. Earlier in that year on April 16, Martin Luther King wrote a letter from the Birmingham Jail addressed to many different church leaders.
He built the Committee of Equal Employment Opportunity that enforces laws against discrimination in the workplace, gave life to the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, and proposed a law to ensure voting rights and outlaw segregation. Kennedy and King had a positive relationship and Kennedy fought for King when he was in jail, and explained to the judge that Kings’ rights are not to be violated. Kennedy too allowed Martin Luther King to demonstrate a peaceful protest known as the March on Washington, where King delivered his “I have a dream” speech. Kennedy contributed greatly to the Civil Rights
One April 16th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., pastor and civil rights activist, in his speech entitled “Letter form Birmingham City Jail”, addresses social justice for all people. He supports his claims by first stating there is heritage and Americans will fight for what they deserve, then explaining we are doing the wrong thing to get the correct outcome, which is protesting for equality, and finally everyday people disobey the law to get the outcome they want. Through use of tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools he effectively persuades the United States citizens to bring social justice to everyone across the United States of America King’s optimistic and encouraging tone promotes and livens the United States citizens. King’s speech
Dr. King fought for equal rights especially among African-Americans, because he believed that everyone
According to the quote from John F. Kennedy, “ Civil Rights Message”, “Every american ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated.” ( Kennedy 227). This quote proves my claim, because it shows that he supported it and believed that everyone should be equal. The assassination of JFK was unjust because, he initiated the alliance for progress for development of latin america.
The Civil Rights Address is one of the best speeches that President John F. Kennedy ever gave to the American people. It was a big-time accomplishment during his presidency. This speech put JFK on the billboards of the top presidents of the United States. The United States was falling apart, Americans forgot about the word United in the United States. There was and unfortunately still is so much hate, pain, and disliking of other races in America.
The assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963 threatened the legislation he had fought so hard to achieve. However, an unlikely supporter in the minds of most civil rights organizations was found in the new president, Lyndon B. Johnson (EEOC, n.d.). With the nation still grief-stricken by its tragic loss, President Johnson addressed Congress in a humbling manner, in which he stated “We have talked long enough in this country about civil rights. It is time to write the next chapter and to write it in the books of law . . . . No eulogy could more eloquently honor President Kennedy 's memory than the earliest possible passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought so long” (EEOC, 2004, para. 4).
Fight for Freedom campaign. He traveled around the country giving lectures and speaking about equality. He wrote letters and sent telegrams to Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon about equality and the wait for it for his people. He believed Kennedy would be a good President but said he would openly criticize him if he didn’t make civil rights a priority. Jackie Robinson was a brave and strong individual who believed in standing and fighting for what you believed in.
Although African Americans were freed from slavery in 1863, they were not treated as so a century later. Throughout the 1960s there was racial injustice, especially within the southern states. It was also an important decade for the Civil Rights Movement, which was strongly supported by President John F. Kennedy before his assassination in 1963. After former Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson took office, he continued to fight for the equality of African American citizens. After analyzing Johnson’s speech on voting rights for African Americans and reading more about the Freedom March in Selma, Alabama it is clear that President Johnson made a profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was unjust because he was an influential American leader and he believed in equal rights, however some say his political stance was corrupt. John F. Kennedy was a very prominent American leader. He influenced America and paved a path to continue rebuilding America after the aftermath of the war. For example,
In Martin Luther King’s speech, The Ethical Demands for Integration (1963), he states that desegregation would not be enough to solve the ethical dilemma amongst colors and non-colors instead integration would have to become the prime objective while advocating civil disobedience (King 58). With blacks from around the nation unified, the Civil Rights movement gained support and strength. The pressure from Civil Rights groups and the foot soldiers of the movement would consequently alter the social, political, and economic
On August 28th, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King held one of the most powerful and influential speeches in human history. The speech was held in front of more than 200 000 people and concerned the injustices of discrimination of African Americans which was taking place in the United States at the time. In his first statement he says: “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” With this introduction Mr. King firmly states what the essence of his speech will be.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered his “Civil Rights Address” on June 11, 1963 to talk about how everyone is born equal and just because you are born with darker skin you shouldn’t be considered less of a person and have less rights. It was filmed in the oval office and broadcast on national radio and television. This speech is about equal rights for african americans. It was made because two black children had to be escorted to school by state troopers after numerous threats. John F. Kennedy used diction as well as logos and ethos to make listeners believe that his argument is right and they should take his side.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, another incredible man, affirmed in his inaugural address that he would do anything to insure “survival and success of liberty” for Americans and it cost him his life (jfklibrary). Beyond his wealth and power, Kennedy was always considerate of the common man. This essay will explain how both Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy wanted to end segregation with faith and cooperation, but their ideas of achieving change were different; this essay will also connect their sacrifices, like going to jail or having the will to die, for the sake of the people.