Lesson 3: Organizing to Demand Rights

Key Terminology

• Boycott: A purposeful and voluntary refusal to utilize or purchase goods or services, often motivated by political beliefs.
• Nonviolent Resistance: A method of enacting change through peaceful protests rather than violence.

Key Figures

• Rosa Parks: NAACP activist known for her pivotal role in initiating the Montgomery Bus Boycotts by refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger.
• Martin Luther King Jr.: Prominent national civil rights leader associated with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, founder of the Montgomery Improvement Association, and advocate for nonviolent resistance amidst significant personal risks.

Organizations

• Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA): Civil rights group founded on principles of nonviolent resistance, instrumental in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott and fighting segregation.
• Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC): Student-led organization formed by Ella Baker, known for organizing demonstrations, Freedom Rides, and the March on Washington.
• Congress of Racial Equality (CORE): Interracial group established by James Farmer to enhance race relations in the South, employing tactics like sit-ins to promote integration.

Events and Movements

• Montgomery Bus Boycott: Resulting from Rosa Parks' arrest, this boycott led to financial losses for the bus company, route closures affecting African American neighborhoods, and intensified civil rights activism. Protestors faced job losses and violence but inspired similar movements nationwide.
• Freedom Rides: Coordinated by CORE and SNCC, these bus trips challenged segregation in public transportation, faced violent opposition in certain regions.
• Sit-in Movement: Initiated by four African American college students at a lunch counter in 1960, this nonviolent act called for racial equality in dining establishments.

Philosophies and Impact

• Black Nationalism: Advocates for a distinct identity and unity within the African American community.
• Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X: Their philosophies differed significantly; King endorsed nonviolence, whereas Malcolm X’s approach included elements of self-defense and black empowerment.
• Social Impact of the Montgomery Bus Boycott: It heightened national awareness of segregation issues and inspired boycotts and civil rights movements across the country.

Important Test Questions

• Leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Martin Luther King Jr. became the spokesperson for nonviolent protest during this movement.
• Principle of the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Based on nonviolent resistance.
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference: Aimed to secure full equality for African Americans, nurturing leadership for peaceful protests.

Notable Outcomes

• Joining the Nation of Islam: Malcolm X, who became a prominent figure for African American rights after his induction into the Nation of Islam while in prison.
• Legacy of Rosa Parks: Her refusal to give up her seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a critical event paving the way for future civil rights initiatives.

This quiz focuses on key concepts and figures related to organizing for civil rights. It includes definitions of important terms like 'boycott' and 'nonviolent resistance,' as well as significant historical figures like Rosa Parks. Test your knowledge and understanding of these fundamental ideas.