Key Figures
MLK Jr.
One of the most prominent Civil Rights Movement leaders during the Civil Rights Movement, Lead the Supreme Court Case to desegregate the united states.
Brown v Board
The Court Case that desegregated schools in May of 1954.
Sit Ins
"I have a Dream"
MLK Jr's Famous Speech that was delivered at the March on Washington, Inspired people to keep on fighting for Civil Rights
Black Lives Matter
The Movement striving for equal treatment and fighting against Systematic Oppression.
Rosa Parks
Refused to give a white man her seat in the front of a segregated bus, lead to the boycott of Montgomery Bus System.
Plessy V Ferguson
The Court Case that maintained that segregation was constitutional in 1896. "Separate but Equal"
Freedom Rides
A series of bus trips undertaken by civil rights activists in 1961 to challenge racial segregation in the southern United States. The goal was to integrate public transportation and specifically target segregated bus terminals, as Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation.
"We Shall Overcome"
Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., as well as countless protesters, sang this anthem during marches, rallies, and sit-ins to express hope and unity in the struggle for racial equality.
Affirmative Action
This policy, first widely promoted in the 1960s, aims to correct historical inequalities by encouraging the increased representation of minorities and women in education and employment.
Malcolm X
An African American Revolutionary, advocated for Black empowerment and self-defense, and was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam before founding the Organization of Afro-American Unity.
Loving V. Virginia
In 1967 this was the court case that struck down interracial marriage laws.
Bus Boycotts
Sparked by Rosa Parks which led to the refusal of using the Montgomery Bus Service by African Americans.
This powerful spiritual, with lyrics like "keep on a-walkin’, keep on a-talkin’," became a Civil Rights anthem of perseverance during marches in places like Selma and Birmingham.
Voting Rights Issues
These issues, including voter ID laws, redistricting, and restrictions on mail-in voting, have sparked nationwide debates about access to the ballot and potential voter suppression.
John Lewis
Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), he was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington and later served over 30 years in the U.S. Congress representing Georgia
Gideon V. Wainwright
In 1963 this was the Court Case that established that no one could pick and choose who is and isn't worthy of having the right to counsel because of the size of their wallet or skin color.
March on Washington
A massive demonstration held on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C., calling for an end to racial discrimination and the passage of civil rights legislation. It was a culmination of efforts by civil rights organizations like the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), it was where MLK Jr Gave "I have a Dream Speech".
"Letter from Birmingham Jail"
While imprisoned in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote this famous letter defending nonviolent protest and addressing criticisms from white clergymen.
Modern Protest Tactics
The Civil Rights Movement led to the influence of methods used for other national protests, such as Women Marches, LGBTQ+ Protests, etc.
Ella Baker
She played a Key Role in most of the influential Civil Rights Organizations such as the MLK Southern Christian Leadership Conference, NAACP and the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee. She led and created the SNCC in 1960.
The Civil Rights Cases
A group of five landslide supreme court cases that led to us having civil rights. Brown v. Board of Education, Plessy v. Ferguson, Dred Scott v. Sandford, Loving v. Virginia, and Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Birmingham Campaign
A series of nonviolent protests and demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Led by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Martin Luther King Jr, the campaign aimed to desegregate public facilities and challenge racial discrimination in the city.
"Eyes on the Prize"
This freedom song, urging activists to stay focused on their goal of equality, took its title from an old spiritual and became the name of a landmark 1987 PBS documentary series.
Ongoing Racial Inequality
Whilst the Civil Rights Movement led to the legal changes we know today, we still have much to fight for such as Police Aggression, Systematic Oppression and Prejudice.