The struggle for civil rights in the United States of America afforded a black Americans many rights: the right to vote; the right to bear arms; the right to assembly and the right to be a first-class citizen of America. Many black Americans have taken these rights and seized the day. They have taken advantage of opportunities in industry, education, political office, civil service jobs and partaking in life in general.

Black Americans have exercised their civil rights improve them that they were held back. They have proven that they are not dumb, simple, lacking in ability or any of the other stereotypes that were perpetuated. That is a huge milestone. As black Americans continue to seize the opportunities afforded to them the community will grow and we will have more assets away from the late Michael Jackson, Pam Grier, the late Tamara Dobson and President Barack Obama to name a few.

We see this in the late pop singer Michael Jackson. The first regularly played video by a black artist on MTV was “Thriller.” Michael Jackson received a lot of flack for his style, his demeanor, his desire to change his looks. But, he was undeniably the King of Pop and no one can take that from him.

We see this in Pam Grier the queen of blacksploitation films along with the late Tamara Dobson. Both women set the stage for not only blacksploitation films that stared women in positive, productive, and powerful roles, but they also began another trend that trend of women in general leading roles that were powerful, positive and productive. This is probably why Grier was put on the cover of Ms. in August 1975.

We see this in the presidential candidate and current US President Barack Obama. Yes, President Barack Obama is the first black American president United States has ever had, but he didn’t get to the position of president solely because the civil rights struggle ended, it may never end. He got there because America decided they wanted something more, something better then they had in the past. America wanted change and he offered that in the form of holding his head up high, believing in himself and surrounding himself with people who believed in him. President Barack Obama did not rest on his laurels.

These three examples of men and women who stood up in decided to take advantage of the opportunities the US civil rights movement afforded them show all of America that it’s important to not only have the opportunity but to seize the opportunity . They seized the opportunity. They are true Americans then they are examples to all Americans and to the entire world.