Prompt: When has unconventional participation been successful in bringing about political change in U.S. history? Are those instances viewed differently in hindsight than they were at the time? Why?
I think that the reason that unconventional participation is so successful in bringing about political change is its ability to draw public attention. The media usually covers these occurrences and brings the issues to public attention. Then, citizens will make a choice about the issue. A major issue that was brought further to the light through unconventional participation is the Selma march in 1965. The awful governmental response to the demonstration only further alerted the public to the problem. Then, pressure has been continually placed upon politicians about civil rights, even to this day. Looking back upon the Selma demonstration, however, there has been a huge change in climate for blacks, and the demonstration is now viewed solemnly as a day when those facing voting right discrimination stood up and were successful in awakening the nation to the civil rights issue. Now the attitude of most black and white people alike is a gladness that change has occurred for those oppressed in our country. This change is a direct result of the attention brought to the issue by the numerous forms of conventional and unconventional participation performed in the past. If no one were to speak up, nothing would have changed.
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