Historical Quote
Historical Quote“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
The aforementioned historical quote spoken by Martin Luther King. Jr. is relevant in understanding the situation during the American Civil Rights movement in the United States during the 1950s until the 1960s. The Civil Rights movement was a result of long-standing discrimination, inequality, and violence against black Americans (Kirk, 2014; Stanton, 2000). King’s statement about the ‘silence of the good people’ reflects the struggles of the Civil Rights movement due to the inaction of people when it came to supporting the cause. The Civil Rights movement was a long struggle due to the inadequacy of support and slow action from the government to end racial segregation and discrimination in the country. Inaction from the good people, particularly those in powerful and influential positions in government, was one of the major reasons that caused the prolonged fight for Civil Rights. It was difficult for the black American community to attain justice due to widespread apathy in the US not only among white people but also among some black people.
Many Americans regardless of race refused to participate out of fear or apathy, and according to King, the latter was one of the reasons that made the struggle for them worse and difficult due to inadequate support from the public. From King’s statement, we understand the effects of apathy and the role of activism and social engagement in bringing about change. King stated that apathy made it more difficult for the Civil Rights movement to progress because some good people kept quiet and stifled their support for the movement. From this, we learn that bring about social movement through activism and proactive drives necessitate support and backing from the community. Apathy and inaction give way for ‘evil’ to take place in society because we may not be committing mistakes such as discrimination but we are letting it happen. This mirrors the situation during the Civil Rights movement. Why We Study HistoryHistory is essentially a study of the past. Some people consider history as less interesting and relevant compared to other disciplines that directly and tangibly impact society. Nonetheless, studying history is also important, particularly in helping us live in the present and build towards the future. Studying history is important to modern life because it allows to primarily look back and identify and assess mistakes in the past.
From learning about history, we understand the factors or conditions that negatively influenced or affected individuals and groups. Consequently, we learn from our mistakes by not repeating the past and using past examples to make changes and improvements in the present and for the future (Durant & Durant, 2012; Stearns, Seixas, & Wineburg, 2000). Studying history is also important because it helps us understand people and societies. Without …
