“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”
- Nelson Mandela
I believe that Nelson Mandela summed up rights, liberties, and freedom in this quote. It is true that if you take away someone’s, or anyones’, rights you are challenging them and they will bite back. Humans are intelligent animals for the most part and we will find away around you to get what we want. Weather it be stomping our feet on the ground screaming or doing something in return. Mandela, along with others, lead a revolution that did both very successfully with formal statements, processions, international government action, alternative government institutions, boycotts, and strikes.
In the 1820s women began to want not to be trapped in a small box of freedom while men had a house. They wanted to have the same rights and they were willing to fight. During this time women were making the headlines and speaking their minds. All over the nation women were lecturing, writing, marching, lobbying, and practicing civil disobedience. Most of the time, when protesting, they were arrested and imprisoned.
Susan B. Anthoney,committed to equality and a strong feminist, played a major role in women’s suffrage. She and Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the New York Women’s State Temperance Society in 1852. They later founded the Women’s Loyal National League which created the largest petition drive in the nation up to that time with nearly 400,000 signatures. Proving that human rights progression was possible and that there were also plenty of men who thought that sex had nothing to do with voting. In 1921, the 19th Amendment was passed by congress stating “The right of citizens of the United States shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
In 1652, the dutch began colonizing South Africa and capturing the natives, which they would sell into slavery. After decades of the “Superior Whites” ruling over them, the natives decided that they wanted a change. In 1948, an all white-election was established however this of course did not please the South Africans because they could not vote due to there skin color. *cough cough* America *cough*. So a South African apartheid regime was created. The first falling domino for a national movement.
The time between 1948 to 1994, when Mandela was elected president, many things worked their way into the news and made the Dutch rule come to an end. Formal statements were made, like in 1952 the ANC (African National Congress) asked for the support of the citizens of South Africa, all races, to end the “unjust and discriminatory laws.” There were also processions like in July 1961 were about 18,000 black supported came and marched in front of parliament despite the government’s threats. “Mini-governments” were set up in black townships to provide alternative government institutions. These townships supported their own judicial system and serves such as police, street cleaning, health care, and garbage removal. This movement also used international government action, boycotts, and strikes.
After the Civil War there was a LOT of racial tension in the south. This created even more problems for African Americans to face, even in the 60s. During this time segregation was the norm and everyone was use to it, but quite a few did not enjoy it. Rosa Parks was one who was tired after work and refused to move when a White man needed a place to sit even though she was seated in the back of the bus where blacks would sit. However now it's a fight to sit in the back on the school buss. She was arrested of course. Martin Luther King Jr. was another major person in the Civil Rights Movement. He helped organize sit-ins, boycotts, marches, civil disobedience, etc… He was also arrested and later killed. 
This was a time of change. Many families had tvs in their homes, news reporters were at the protests, so everyone saw what was happening. People were being hosed down in the streets, attacked while being peaceful, and like Emmett Till were killed for illegitimate reasons. The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most well known movements in American history. This is a time that set the stage for another movement that continues on today.
This movement is the LGBT movement. LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender. This movement started back in the 50s with just coming out about the whole thing. Most people did not understand it and could not imagine the thought of a same sex couple. LGBT used and continues to protest and use legal action in order to get to its goal of same sex marriage and deeper awareness of homosexuals and other alike.
Unlike what many people think it is not wrong to love. Loving is a thing that we all do and love is a thing that like rights we all deserve. The LGBT mission quote is “love can’t wait” which I agree with. If you had two people who loved each other and wanted to get married for all the right reasons would you? The Supreme Court will decide on the matter next month.
In conclusion, with all that has been said, I do believe that history repeats itself in some way shape or form due to the fact that we are all human and humans have habits. Just remember that if you take away our rights we will fight. You try to take away what we believe we will tell you the truth of the matter. You can knock us down, but we will get right back up again. No matter the obstacle.
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2. "The Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa." 2013. 19 May. 2015 <https://tavaana.org/en/content/struggle-ground-anti-apartheid-movement-south-africa>
3. "The Fight for Women's Suffrage - History Channel." 2014. 22 May. 2015 <http://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage>
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7. "Civil Rights Movement - Black History - HISTORY.com." 2014. 23 May. 2015 <http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement>
8. "History of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Social Movements." 2010. 23 May. 2015 <http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/history.aspx>
9. "The End Goal of the LGBT Movement | George Weinberg." 2013. 23 May. 2015 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-weinberg/the-end-goal-of-the-lgbt-movement_b_3547869.html>
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