Wednesday Assignment 1

 

Radicalism and assimilation have played out over various movements. It has been observed in the anti-Vietnam war movement, women’s movement, the gay rights movement and the Chicano protest movement. When one thinks of radicalism, Malcom X may well be thought of. Assimilation may perhaps conjure the contemplation of Martin Luther King Jr.  Although these two are nearly opposites in approach, the theme “different circumstances call for different solutions” can be seen in many movements of the past as well as those of today.

 

People were both radical and assimilated in the anti-Vietnam war movement. As the situation in the Vietnam war further deteriorated, civil disobedience was at a peak. An upsurge of partakers took place as well due to the socioeconomic conditions as a result of the war. This was shown when numerous blue-collared workers joined antiwar activities. Seeing that U.S troops were coming home, anti-war protests declined save for the remaining activists who protested the prolonged U.S. bombing, the dilemma of South Vietnamese political prisoners, and U.S. funding of the war

 

The Chicano movement has been and is assimilated as they are very quiet and peaceful. They use emotional and cultural approaches. An emotional case in point would be in the article “The Origins and History of the Chicano Movement” by Roberto Rodriguez which says “The reasons: lack of historical memory, regionalism and sectarianism, but also government efforts to destroy this nascent movement.” Here, Rodriguez is using an emotional tool to engage the people. The cultural approach can be seen in the process as it began as the movement for self-respect and dignity, to the struggle of being recognized as a people. This is great, however it appears that the African-Americans primarily fought the fight for civil rights. This could be used to argue that assimilation is not prolific.

 

The women’s movement uses assimilation. They used it through resistance based on persuasion, voter support, and legislation. However there is disagreement on whether women did this on their own accord or by those of the Mormon Church who called for equal rights between women and men. Therefore it could be said that organization involvement was present and it really was not the women fighting on their own free will, rather they were fighting for something that was instilled in them by religious beliefs.

 

The gay rights movement in the beginning seemed to use radicalism. The reason appeared to be that the community was only trying to get the message out. That equality is part of our law and supposedly our culture so why were homosexuals excluded from this? However today, the gay rights movement has moved in an exceptional direction using assimilation at its finest using legislators, education and more to prove their cause.

 

 

 

            Overall, one should not be thought of as more valid when it comes to Dr. King and Malcolm X’s strategies. The reason being different circumstances call for different solutions. In protests of war (such as the movement against U.S involvement in Iraq), it might be best to use peaceful strategies. A group of people should not protest in violence towards another group who is committing it, as it brings them into disrepute. An additional example is that of the civil rights movement in which there was more variation between radicalism and assimilation. Although a peace advocate, Dr. King addressed President Kennedy following the death of four young African-American girls in a church bombing. He advised the president of the ever-growing frustration between the African-American community and indirectly called for a solution. Whether it was a threat or an honest estimation is one thing, nonetheless the African-American community felt like it was being pushed to use violent approaches.