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populated by African-Americans or immigrant families, or even if there was a nearby school that was predominately non-white (Doc 4). This inequality and systematic segregation kept groups of people apart. After the eradication of laws that allowed these behaviors to occur, African-Americans still pushed towards areas that were less than ideal and where they have largely stayed. Escaping the grip of racial prejudices is nearly impossible when continually and culturally enforced for generations.

Fortunately, this country has had strong individuals throughout our history who have been effective in driving the American civil rights movement forward. At times, the fight has been a dangerous one and it has only been through brave leadership that systematic changes have been made. One such figure was Fannie Lou Hamer. Fanny Lou Hamer not only fought for the rights of African-Americans, but she also fought for the rights of women, specifically, she fought for voting rights and a political presence for African-Americans. She became the first African- American to take a seat as an official delegate at a national-party convention, and was the first woman to do so in Mississippi. Subjected at times to torture tactics and discrimination, she succeeded through her strength and courage (Doc 8). Hamer embodies what it means to be an American who stands for what is right even in a time when it was dangerous to do so. As a role model, she has undoubtedly inspired future women to be courageous and persevere in their fight for positive societal changes.

As in the case of racial prejudices, there is no doubt that women in this country have been the victims of unfair and unequal treatment, as well. Until fairly recently in American history, women were not even viewed as citizens of this country. This largely meant they were treated unfairly under existing laws and had no say in the democratic system of government making laws that should have been made for the people and by the people, regardless of gender and race. This disparity overlooked more than half of the country’s inhabitants and the unequal treatment of women continues to be felt to this day. The fight for equal treatment of women has been largely influenced by the civil rights movement, after all, equality for race and sex have been linked throughout all of history. Women fought for the rights of African-Americans and vice versa. Figures like Crystal Eastman and Eleanor Roosevelt defined the emerging role of women, even before the time of the civil rights movement. Eastman spoke of women’s autonomy and what was necessary to achieve it (Doc 1), and Roosevelt spoke of the political presence of women and o