BY: MATT E.

Discrimination has not just been a problem that America has had to face. Throughout the years of history, discrimination and prejudice have played a huge role in the way that history has happened. From the genocide of the Jewish people to the racial riots of today, it is everyone's problem, not just our nations. Following are some examples of discrimination throughout history.

One of the most recognized forms of discrimination is that of racial discrimination. Men and women of middle eastern decent, African-Americans, and Mexicans are just some of the many examples that can fall under this category. Contrary to many beliefs, many races are discriminated against. A group of black Americans picket outside a community store. A group of middle-easterners protests local laws.

A poster advertising the support of a disability social history project. People experiencing physical or mental disabilities are often taken advantage of for the disability that they have, and are generally looked upon as a burden to society.

Even today, with all of the technology that we have to offer, many elderly today are not properly taken care of and given the care and respect they deserve. Age is also a factor in many peoples discrimination against others. Elderly are also seen as a burden to society.

With many new religions and beliefs sprouting each and every year, the better known beliefs are held in high esteem, while the ones that are lesser known are being put down as beliefs that could never be probable. The people with these beliefs that are not as well known are discriminated against, and looked at as ‘different.’

There is also a dominant discrimination against women. Not so much in America, but in the middle eastern countries. Many women are told to keep their faces covered, such as was in Afghanistan before the law was changed.

Not to say that we are not doing anything about these problems. For example, an Act was passed by Congress in 1967 to try to get rid of discrimination in the work place due to age, and an Act was also passed in 1995 to try to stop disability discrimination from taking place. Also, classes are being given to students to prevent discrimination from happening in schools, as shown at left.

So what? What does all of these different kinds of discrimination have to do with the Civil Rights Movement? Yes, all of these forms of discrimination can be found during the 1960s, but does it go deeper than that? What about how the discrimination what fought? There is a direct tie-in to all of the kinds of protests used during the ‘60s and the past and present.

During the age of Ancient Rome, a direct tie-in can be found to some of the tactics used. For example, as we all know, there was much religious tension during the time of Jesus Christ. How did he respond to the violence shown towards him? Not with revenge, but with peace, and speeches against the wrongs of his oppressors. A classic example of religious persecution, and the handling of that persecution.

Another example of the way peaceful protest was used in the past was in the time preceding the Civil War. The slaves of the day used codes, secret messages, and even songs to convey their feelings and beliefs. They did not fight with violence, but by fighting the system that held them captive. Racial discrimination at its peak, and yet responded to with peace. Also, during the American Revolution, many peaceful, secretive wars were fought behind the physical wars that took place.

Led by great leaders of the past such as Martin Luther King, anyone who believes that they are being discriminated against can use these tactics to fight the oppressors from the inside. It has been said that you can stop a war by responding kindly. An example of this was the Little Rock Nine in Arkansas. Responding with “Thank you” tore the oppressors apart, rather than feeding them with fear and brutal retaliation. One of the “Little Rock Nine” braves the crowds. Little Rock Central High School today, not such a controversial place.

Still, even today there is no perfect world. We are still faced with the problems of all of the kinds of discrimination mentioned earlier, and with finding the solutions to some of them. The Cincinnati Riots were a classic example of how all racial tension has not been taken away since the 1960s, despite the huge efforts of the government and others. Results of the Cincinnati Riots