It’s always amazing to me how recent such obviously decent changes were made & how fragile everything is for so many people. I know it, but every time I see a reference to it I’m sad all over again. And there is so damn much left to do.

that's what prompted my post

"ah, the #CivilRights movement, ancient #American #history"

nope:

Fred Gray, Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith are alive and kicking!

they fought for their #rights in the 1950s, and then it's all settled and done?

no, this is all very recent

not just in some theoretical lifespan, but the original participants are still with us

the struggle is still with us

and the old hate is still with us

as we falter and reverse our progress as a nation

I was born a few months after this. I watched the Civil Rights movement as a child. Watching police dogs and fire hoses used against Black people on the news. Then first hand seeing the results of the riots in New Jersey cities. The level of tension was so great it had to break somehow. MLK's death spawned an even more powerful movement, sans its great leader. Once again entering perilous times like those of the late 1960s. I hope we have the leaders to pull us through. @Pineywoozle