The Civil Rights Movement was characterized by mass revolts and rebellions allowing the movement to eventually succeed. One significant event that saw a shift in the movement from mass rebellions to revolts occurred in 1962 which was documented in Robert Williams' book "Negroes with Guns"." Williams portrayed the brutality and hate the blacks had to face from the white community. Furthermore, he exemplified that the white community along with the police used violence in order to condemn any peaceful protests the blacks attempted. Therefore, Williams believed that the blacks should pick up arms for self-protection against the brutality of the white community. Robert Williams and the rest of the people in Monroe in the late 1950s looked to better the conditions for the black community in Monroe. Williams had become the leader of the local chapter of the NAACP and along with the rest of the community worked to improve living conditions for the colored people in Monroe. In one such incident Williams and the community asked the city for the blacks to be able to use the community swimming pool. .
At this point, the black community in Monroe only wanted access to the community swimming pool for 2-3 days per week. However, the city denied them their request, which caused the black community to stage a rebellion in which the blacks would stand together next to the swimming pool. The action taken by the black community in order to protest the city's decision was a rebellion, because the entire point of the protest was to get noticed by the city and states so that it would evoke some kind of action from them. The idea of non-violence or uprisings characterized much of the Civil Rights Movements and thus the blacks in the community adapted the idea and put it into action. However, the rebellion of the blacks was not seen very positively by the white community. The rebellion of the blacks was met with violent resistance from the whites.