Q: How would you define the Civil Rights Movement?
A: The Civil Rights Movement can be defined as a pivotal moment within the broader black freedom struggle, driven by a mass of Americans, particularly black Americans, who had been persistently fighting for equality across generations. The pressure exerted through this movement saw significant changes in both laws and societal perspectives in regards to the inclusive nature of democracy.
When I reflect upon the Civil Rights Movement, I think of it as a sequel to the Reconstruction Era [the period that followed the end of the American Civil War in 1865 that saw efforts to rebuild the nation and address racial inequality through political, social, and economic reforms]. Just like any sequel, though, there remains space in the narrative for further development, and there are still unresolved aspects.
Q: Do you consider the Reconstruction Era to be an unfinished revolution?
A: When we talk about revolutions, it's important to understand that they rarely have clear-cut endings. Instead, they tend to be ongoing processes with advances and setbacks along the way. Reconstruction was no exception.
In the wake of the Civil War, the United States
