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Most of us believe that we have the right to be treated fairly and
equally within society, regardless of our race, sex, religion, or social group.
this equal treatment includes the right to vote, work, and
be educated. When these rights are protected by law, they
are called legal or civic rights. in some countries, they are
spelled out in a constitution. However, throughout history,
many groups, including African Americans, black south
Africans, Native Americans, and women, have not been
considered equal to others, and have had few, if any, civil
or human rights. this kind of targeted mistreatment is
called discrimination. in the 20th century, many
different groups, including blacks, homosexuals,
women, and people with disabilities, fought long and
sometimes bitter campaigns to achieve their rights and
obtain equal treatment within society, and these
struggles continue today.AMericAN iNdiAN MoveMeNt
since the 1960s, Native Americans have
become more forceful in demanding
equal rights. in 1968, the American indian
Movement (AiM) formed to fight for civil
rights and improved conditions on
reservations. A militant organization,
AiM conducted a number of high-profile
protests. in 1973, they occupied Wounded
Knee in south dakota, the site of a
massacre of sioux people in 1890. federal
marshals surrounded the protestors, and
a siege began in which two AiM members
were killed. since then, some Native
Americans have won land rights, but
discrimination still continues today.NelsoN MANdelA
in 1948, the south African government
introduced apartheid, under which the
black majority had no civil rights. the African
National congress (ANc), headed by Nelson
Mandela (1918-2013), led a long fight against
apartheid. it was finally repealed in 1991.AfricAN-AMericAN rigHts
until slavery was abolished in 1865, African
Americans were treated as property in the
southern states. following abolition, southern
states introduced laws that segregated (separated)
races, and made African Americans second-class citizens.
under the leadership of Martin luther King, Jr. (1929-68),
a civil rights movement emerged. it used non-violent methods, such
as sit-ins (see left), where African Americans peacefully occupied
segregated public places. finally, congress passed the civil
rights Act in 1964 and the voting rights Act in 1965. these
laws outlawed discrimination on the grounds of race, color,
or religion in schooling, voting, and employment.AMNesty iNterNAtioNAl
A worldwide human rights organization,
Amnesty international was founded in
1961 following a legal appeal by a
british lawyer, Peter benenson, after he
read about two Portuguese students
who were imprisoned for raising their
glasses in a toast to freedom. Amnesty
works to obtain prompt and fair trials
for all prisoners, to end torture and
executions, and to secure the release of people imprisoned
solely for their political or religious beliefs and who have not
used or advocated violence. the organization has more than
7 million members and has its
headquarters in london. in 1977,
Amnesty international was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize for its work.Find out more
Africa, history of
King, Jr., martin luther
law
Mandela, nelson
Native americans
slavery
tubman, harrietHuman rights
MoHANdAs gANdHi
Human rights activists—those who
fight for civil rights—use peaceful
methods. they unite and mobilize
people. in 1915, Mohandas gandhi
(1869-1948) began to lead the
struggle against british rule in india.
using nonviolent civil disobedience,
gandhi’s fasts and marches helped
lead to india’s independence from
british rule in 1947.US_264_Human_Rights.indd 264 21/01/16 5:00 pm