Struggle for equal rights and opportunities in the United States

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Struggle for equal rights and opportunities in the United States
Introduction
It is essential to note that discrimination and bias have existed in the United States for decades, and this has impacted the members of the minority communities such as African Americans. Between the 1950s and 1960s, the people of color in the United States were considered second-class citizens, and they were denied equal rights and opportunities provided to the majority-white people. It is critical to understand that the institution of slavery was promoted in various southern states; the African Americans in these states were required to carry out all the manual and hard work, such as working in plantations owned by the whites. However, the development of various groups and movements throughout the country that were focused on promoting equality among all citizens helped in ensuring that people in the current American society have equal political, social, and economic opportunities and rights. This literature examines and evaluates the fight and struggle of civil rights groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Organization of Women’s Movement (NOW) that helped in facilitating for equality in the United States.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established in 1909, and it is one of the oldest groups that were formed with the goal of promoting the interests of the minority communities in the United States at a time when the African Americans and other small communities faced violence and discrimination throughout the country. The vision of the NAACP is to make ensure that a just society is promoted where all people have equal rights and that there is no discrimination based on race, color, and cultural background (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). This movement was founded with numerous objectives, which included ensuring political, social and educational equality for all Americans. Additionally, the organization was also keen on removing the barriers that promoted racial discrimination, particularly during democratic processes. NAACP was also focused on informing the public about the potential effect of discrimination in society.
On the other side, the Organization of Women’s Movement (NOW) was formed in 1966 and was aimed at promoting and fighting for equal rights for women. Between the 1950s and 1960s, women were discriminated against in different areas such as employment, where they received less pay despite performing equal duties with men. Additionally, women were not allowed to work and would not be recruited into the army. The Establishment of NOW ensured that women would have access to education, employment, and get equal pay (Learning to Give). The founders of NOW were concerned with the way the federal government enforced the anti-discrimination laws, and the association was focused on bringing women into full participation in American society. This was only possible by ensuring that women were provided with all privileges and responsibilities enjoyed by their men counterparts.
Since its establishment, NAACP was focused on ensuring that it advocated equal and just ...