Trailblazers
This woman refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955.
Who is Rosa Parks?
Explanation: Rosa Parks' act of defiance led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
In 1963, over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand jobs and freedom in this event.
What is the March on Washington?
Explanation: This event is where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, advocating for racial and economic equality.
This 1964 law made it illegal to discriminate based on race in public places and jobs.
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
Explanation: This landmark law ended segregation in public spaces and prohibited employment discrimination.
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?
Explanation: This line from the "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the March on Washington in 1963, became a defining moment in the civil rights movement.
This theme focuses on eliminating racial discrimination and ensuring equal rights under the law.
What is racial equality?
Explanation: Racial equality was the foundation of the civil rights movement, addressing systemic racism in public and private life.
This man is best known for his "I Have a Dream" speech and leading the civil rights movement.
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?
Explanation: Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for nonviolent resistance and became the most recognizable face of the civil rights movement.
In 1960, four college students staged this peaceful protest at a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.
What is the Greensboro Sit-In?
Explanation: The Greensboro Sit-In sparked similar protests across the country, leading to the desegregation of many public facilities.
This 1965 law ensured Black Americans could vote by banning unfair tests and barriers.
What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
Explanation: The Voting Rights Act eliminated literacy tests and other tools used to suppress Black voters.
"We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being, by any means necessary."
Who is Malcolm X?
Explanation: This excerpt from Malcolm X’s 1964 speech "By Any Means Necessary" highlighted his belief in self-defense and Black empowerment.
Activists practiced this nonviolent resistance to protest injustice, inspired by Gandhi and used in sit-ins and marches.
What is civil disobedience?
Explanation: Civil disobedience involved peaceful protest and refusal to obey unjust laws, becoming a cornerstone of the movement.
He was the first Black student to attend the University of Mississippi in 1962, despite protests.
Who is James Meredith?
Explanation: James Meredith’s enrollment required federal intervention and marked a significant step in integrating public education.
This violent confrontation on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965 was a turning point for voting rights.
What is Bloody Sunday?
Explanation: The brutal attack on peaceful marchers by police shocked the nation and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
This Supreme Court decision in 1954 said segregated schools were unconstitutional.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
Explanation: This unanimous decision overturned "separate but equal" in education, paving the way for integration.
"Ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have plowed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me. And ain’t I a woman?"
Who is Sojourner Truth?
Explanation: Sojourner Truth delivered this speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention, tying abolition and women’s rights together in a powerful plea for equality.
The civil rights movement not only fought for racial equality but also focused on ensuring fair wages, job access, and ending poverty.
What is economic justice?
Explanation: Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized that racial equality could not exist without addressing economic disparities.
This pastor and activist organized the March on Washington and helped Martin Luther King Jr. with strategy.
Who is Bayard Rustin?
Explanation: Bayard Rustin, an openly gay civil rights leader, was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.
This summer-long campaign in 1964 focused on registering Black voters in Mississippi despite violence and intimidation.
What is Freedom Summer?
Explanation: Freedom Summer saw the murders of three civil rights workers and brought national attention to voter suppression in the South.
In 1968, this law made it illegal to discriminate when selling or renting homes.
What is the Fair Housing Act?
Explanation: The Fair Housing Act addressed housing discrimination, promoting equal opportunities for Black Americans.
"It is a call to unite, to join together as one people, to fight against the forces of injustice with all our might."
Who is John Lewis?
Explanation: John Lewis, a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), delivered this during the March on Washington, urging unity in the struggle for justice.
This theme emphasized fostering pride in African heritage, celebrating Black history, and rejecting white supremacy.
What is Black empowerment?
Explanation: Black empowerment, championed by leaders like Malcolm X and movements like Black Power, inspired cultural pride and self-determination.
Known for her work in law and civil rights, she became the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge.
Who is Constance Baker Motley?
Explanation: Motley argued key civil rights cases and played a critical role in the legal victories of the civil rights movement.
In 1961, these activists rode buses to the segregated South to test the Supreme Court's integration rulings.
Who are the Freedom Riders?
Explanation: Freedom Riders faced brutal violence as they sought to challenge segregation on public buses and terminals.
In 1948, this presidential order ended segregation in the U.S. military.
What is Executive Order 9981?
Explanation: President Truman’s order was a key step toward desegregation and equal rights in the armed forces.
"You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive."
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?
Explanation: This line, from King’s "I Have a Dream" speech, references the sacrifices made by activists and the belief that enduring injustice will ultimately lead to justice.
A key question of the movement was whether to work within the existing system or take a more militant approach to achieve justice. This debate was central to its strategies.
What is reform versus revolution?
Explanation: Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for working within the system, while others, like Malcolm X, argued for more radical change when justice was denied.