Verified Document

Freedom Riders Honored; Katie Feldhaus Essay

Who said, "Almost every movement that has taken place since the civil rights movement received its mojo from the men and women who you will see tonight. Whether the movement began in South Africa or Eastern Europe, they looked at the success of the Freedom Riders and saw the success of the men and women who put themselves on the line in order to create a new kind of freedom and a new kind of revolution, a nonviolent revolution." (Feldhaus, 2011) This is significant, because it is showing how the article is taking an unbiased view of these events by: examining the different ways they would influence history. As a result, one could argue that this kind of reporting is presenting the issue from: the viewpoint of a historian looking back on the events that have occurred. This gives the reader, a greater understanding of how this influenced the society that we live in today. (Feldhaus, 2011) The best sociological theory that can describe the views that are being reported in the article is functionalism. This is when each of the different parts of society, is independent from one another. as, everyone is working together to: create the whole of society itself and the values that it will represent. There are two basic elements of this theory that will allow social cohesion to take place these include: mechanical and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity is when people are: embracing the same kind of values and engage in similar kinds of social / work related activities that will support these views. Organic solidarity is when people are independent from one another, but they maintain the same core principals and beliefs as everyone else. ("Functionalism," 2000) ("Three Major Perspectives in Sociology," 2011)

When you apply the theory to the article itself, it is clear that this...

Parts of this document are hidden

View Full Document
svg-one

In this aspect, the author would discuss the different accounts that were: provided by the individuals that were involved in these activities. This is accomplished by showing how the overall amounts of racial injustice, infuriated people to the point that something had to be done to address these issues. as, Feldhaus (2011) is discussing how people were: risking their lives and their freedom to support the civil right movement. This is when mechanical solidarity is being utilized, as this is illustrating how the Freedom Riders were embracing the different values and principles. While at the same time, organic solidarity is highlighted by: showing how everyone voluntarily engaged in these activities on their own. (Feldhaus, 2011)
These different factors are significant because, it is illustrating how functionalism is being used to: show the changes in society that were taking place. With the various members of civil right organizations embracing the elements of: mechanical and organic solidarity. as, these different tools are utilized to help the reader fully understand, the significance of the Freedom Rider in the civil rights movement.

Bibliography

Functionalism. (2000). Grinnell. Retrieved from: http://web.grinnell.edu/courses/soc/s00/soc111-01/IntroTheories/Functionalism.html

Three Major Perspectives in Sociology. (2011). Cliffs Notes. Retrieved from: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Three-Major-Perspectives-in-Sociology.topicArticleId-26957,articleId-26837.html

Feldhaus, K. (2011). Fifty Year Later Freedom Riders Honored. National Journal. Retreived from:http://www.nationaljournal.com/fifty-years-later-freedom-riders-honored-20110413

Sources used in this document:
Bibliography

Functionalism. (2000). Grinnell. Retrieved from: http://web.grinnell.edu/courses/soc/s00/soc111-01/IntroTheories/Functionalism.html

Three Major Perspectives in Sociology. (2011). Cliffs Notes. Retrieved from: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Three-Major-Perspectives-in-Sociology.topicArticleId-26957,articleId-26837.html

Feldhaus, K. (2011). Fifty Year Later Freedom Riders Honored. National Journal. Retreived from:http://www.nationaljournal.com/fifty-years-later-freedom-riders-honored-20110413
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Freedom Riders
Words: 652 Length: 2 Document Type: Reaction Paper

Freedom Riders The purpose of the Freedom Rides was to draw attention to the racial disparities and racism that existed in the United States in 1961 at the time of the rides. The riders were going to ride on integrated buses through the South where the racism was most intense. They were looking to encounter situations in which there was prejudice and bigotry so that they could provide an example to

Riders to the Sea John Millington Synge's
Words: 1093 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Riders to the Sea John Millington Synge's poetic drama and one-act play Riders to the Sea is an understated look at a family's relationship with the sea, at a time when it provided both the sustenance and eventual death for a substantial number of men. The play uses the familiar trope of the wife and mother worried about her male family members dying at sea, but it complicates this trope by

Freedom of Speech When Americans
Words: 2004 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Which is the better course of action, Lawrence might ask himself. Should we censor the Westboro Baptist Church and forbid them their right to free speech, or should we allow them to express their wacky, and perhaps injurious views, and fight back with words of compassion, caring, and support. Just because we would like to make a knee-jerk, reactionary law and censor them does not make it the right

Case Study on Black Freedom Struggle
Words: 3369 Length: 10 Document Type: Case Study

C.O.R.E. And Its Role in the Black Freedom Struggle Nearly one hundred forty years ago, a tall, and not very good-looking, bearded man stepped out onto a great, open field. His tired eyes wandered over the bloody ground, over the earth covered with corpses, over the scene of one of the greatest battles in American History, and his words rang out true and clear -."..Our fathers brought forth on this

African Americans Fight for Equality and Freedom
Words: 2904 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

African-American Civil Rights Struggle African-American Civil Rights How Have African-Americans Worked to end Segregation, Discrimination, and Isolation to Attain Equality and Civil Rights? Background to the Movement Discriminatory Laws World War One and the intensification of the Problems The American Civil Rights Movement Rosa Parks Other measures Civil Rights Act 1964 The modern world talks about no racial discrimination, no gender disparity and equality for all strata and ethnicities of society. Discrimination is seen as a complete and utter no-no,

American Graffiti and Easy Rider Films
Words: 540 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

American Graffiti and "Easy Rider" Although, both "American Graffiti" and "Easy Rider" are set in the 1960's, the young people each film reflects are very different. This is due to the fact that perhaps no other decade in the twentieth century changed so much from its beginning until the end than the 1960's. When the 1960's began, men wore crew cut hairstyles, slacks with casual shirts, usually plaid, and buttoned down the

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now