Essa assim chamada democracia: a década de 1960 e o debate colonial nos EUA

Abstract

This dissertation examines how the discussions that took place in the wake of the fight for rights in the 1960s in the United States characterize an arena of contention for hegemony over the narrative of the Civil Rights Movement. Consequently, these discussions contribute to shaping the democratic landscape of the country. To achieve this, the research is structured into three chapters. In the first chapter, a general analysis of the pre-1960s scenario is conducted to discuss how the racial debate and discussions about the U.S. democratic system have historically unfolded. The following chapter provides an exposition and initial analysis of the main arguments articulated both in academic settings - represented by the analysis of scholarly works - and within the movement itself. In the third chapter, the arguments presented in the previous chapter are analyzed, considering a new division of the investigated material. In conclusion, it is argued that the Civil Rights Movement represented a platform with a certain degree of competition among arguments seeking to expand their sphere of influence. However, despite some advancements such as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, social movements did not achieve substantial changes in the socio-economic realm.