Civil Rights movement: Outcomes
Though not all economic goals were met, American society changed radically as a result of the Civil Rights movement. The impoverished, feudalistic South gradually faded away as the region came into a fuller partnership with the rest of the states economically, politically, and socially. African American politician Jesse Jackson observed that only an integrated Atlanta could have acquired the headquarters of Cable News Network (CNN) and been chosen to host the Olympic Games. African Americans started returning to southern states, bringing with them business and professional skills. After the movement, more and more African Americans enjoyed business success, becoming doctors, lawyers, and other professionals, and working in and rising to executive positions in businesses that had once been dominated by white Americans. For example, during the early twenty-first century, the chief executive officer position at several prominent companies was held by an African American: Kenneth I. Chenault at American Express (2001), JohnW. Thompson at Symantec (1999), and Richard D. Parsons at Time Warner (2002-2007). Oprah Winfrey, a talk show host, became owner of her own media company and one of the richest people in the United States.