Martin Luther King Jr.had a lofty , but much longed - for , dream . To paraphrasethe good clergyman , he hoped that character would someday weigh more than skin color . That people of all race could number together in unity , rather than in discord .
Although the unerasable images and unforgettable speeches of the Americancivil rights movementare typically associated with race , “ civil rights ” in reality reach even further into society . allot toCornell University School of Law , “ A civil right hand is an enforceable right or privilege , which if interfered with by another gives procession to an activity for wound . ”
Protected civil right field in the U.S. include the right to vote , equality in public seat , freedom from involuntary servitude , as well as exemption of pressing , assembly and speech . When a person ’s civic rights are block or abnegate because they belong to a specific family or group it is considered “ secernment . ”
measure have been taken to protect people from secernment due to airstream , religion , national origin , intimate orientation , age and sexuality . But often , these safeguards are disrespected . And there are other areas of discrimination that are as yet not protect by law .
Here are six current examples of civil rights issues that are , regrettably , alive and well :
LGBT Employment Discrimination
ground : The LGBT community experience a major takeover when the Supreme Court decriminalize same - sex marriage in 2015 , but its par struggle is hardly over . Although there are employment favoritism laws in place to protect general polite rights , LGBT people miss legislating specifically protecting them at a national level . In fact , gender identity and sexual orientation are still valid reasons to terminate an employeein 28 states .
Where affair suffer Now : The Equality Act ( which addresses this issue ) was introduce in July 2015 and has been endorse by President Barack Obama . Despite the changing lunar time period , expert believe it ’s unlikelythat the legislation will pass before he leaves situation .
Human Trafficking
scope : Slavery was abolished in the U.S in 1865 , but that does n’t mean it disappeared completely . Human trafficking(defined asthe illegal movement of people typically for force parturiency or commercial sexual exploitation ) is unfortunately alive and well . In North America alone,1.5 million peopleare currently dupe of human trafficking .
Where Things endure Now : Many human trafficking victims ( as well as a Brobdingnagian portion of undocumented immigrants ) do work in the eating house industry or as domestics for far less than the current labor standard , often also in violation of overtime regulations . sexual activity trafficking is also out of restraint , with Atlanta ’s illegal manufacture alone bringing in$290 million a year . And often it ’s Americans overwork other Americans , in addition to women from other countries .
Police Brutality
scope : Although the legal age of law enforcement police officer endeavour to keep the serenity , some highly air incidents and on-going concern from the black community have do major argument about the economic consumption of exuberant effect . Cases including those imply the deaths of unarmed pitch-dark menlike Michael Brown Jr. and John Crawford III have put police refinement and training under serious scrutiny .
Where thing Stand Now : In 2015,987 people were killed by police , harmonise to a Washington Post story . Nine percent of the shooting involved an unarmed soul , mostly a black man . Unarmed ignominious man were seven times as probable to die from police gunshot as unarmed white men . It is important to also note that intimately 80 percent of all those killed were armed with a grease-gun or other artillery , and a stern were mentally ill . To date , a result to this complex issue has yet to be found , withplenty of controversyregarding how and when deadly violence is justified . Indictments of policetripledin 2015 compared to old geezerhood . legion protests ( and theBlack Lives Mattermovement ) have occurred in response to the government issue .
Disability Discrimination in the Workplace
Background : A couple decades have die by sincethe Americans With Disabilities Act(ADA ) was passed , whichprotectspeople with mental or strong-arm constipation . Functionally , workplaces have ameliorate thanks to gain like wheelchair incline , automatic door and parking spaces for the handicapped .
Where Things remain firm Now : handicapped people are still engage at a drastically lower charge per unit than their able - bodied counterparts . One survey showed79 percentof disabled hoi polloi were unemployed , with73 percentof the opinion that their impairment was the cause . TheADA Amendments Actwas pass in 2008 to expand the chain of disabilities insure under the ADA and to provide more counselling for employers and employees .
Pregnancy Discrimination
Background : In 1978 , thePregnancy Discrimination Act(an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act ) was passed . It set aside for pregnancy - related sick farewell , guaranteed gestation handicap leave and for pregnant women to be treat in the same manner that a company would treat any other temporarily handicapped employee . The turn also say an employer ca n’t reject to hire a woman who is pregnant as long as she can perform the occupation .
Where Things Stand Now : Pregnancy discrimination typeface are on the uptick . In fact,2013 alonesaw more than 5,000 complaint issued to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission , compare with 3,900 in 1997 . embodied gargantuan UPS is currently embroiled in a major Margaret Court case because the troupe allegedly forced an employee into volunteer leave without aesculapian insurance when she request carry-over to a position that did n’t expect heavy lifting .
Weight Bias
Background : Do you see weight as a civil rights proceeds ? Consider this : A 2008 studypublished in the International Journal of Obesity disclose that corpulent worker are likely to earn $ 100,000 less than flimsy co - workers over a 40 - year career . Another cogitation find oneself weight and height discrimination ratesare about the sameas racial discrimination rates . And heavy people can befiredbecause of their size even if their job functioning is good .
Where thing Stand Now : Just one country ( Michigan ) and six city presently havelaws against weight discrimination . Thehealth care industryhas begun to employ weight preconception breeding in medical school and as ongoing education . However , since many hoi polloi try their degrees have long - formed opinions , it is an on-going , difficult process . Businesses are alsoeducating employeeson identifying their personal prejudice .
