The Museum of the City of New York, Social Activism in NYC 

    At the Museum of the City of New York, we learned about Social Activism from the 17th century up until present day.  We specifically learned about segregation between the sexes and how women did not have the right to vote, unlike men who were allowed.  So those women fought for their rights to have a say in government decisions.  They went out on the streets with sashes stating, “Women Suffrage" and they proved that men and women should be treated equally.

  Another type of segregation was between races.  After the Reconstruction period, the Jim Crow laws were enfored in the Southern United States.  This meant that colored people were not allowed in the same public facilities as white people.  So they boycotted against racial segregation by not taking any form of public transportaton or going to any public facilities requiring them to pay.  This way, the government began losing money since the majority of citizens in the South were black, and African Americans began to gain more rights.

    These are just two examples of events causing activists to take a stance.  There are many other social issues causing people to take action, such as gay rights and even making city traffic safer for bikers.  There are also many forms of activism, such as writing petitions, boycotting, and creating convincing advertisements.  It’s definitely a group effort.  Although it always starts with one determined person, it takes a group of devoted people to make a difference in the world.

Extra credit:

To be an Activist

Women sufferage, 

it was a big deal.

They stood outside,

with sashes and signs.

Women are citizens,

how long must they wait

for liberty?

Racial segregation,

it had to stop.

Blacks couldn't go

to restaurants and parks.

If white people were there,

they couldn't be.

So they boycotted,

and the government

wouldn't get their money.

Social issues,

there are so many.

but we have to be strong,

we have to take a stance,

we have to be brave.

We have to say the things

that others would be afraid to say,

we have to be activists.