Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s-1960s

Overview

• The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement in the United States that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
• The movement took place from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s.

Key Events

• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): Sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white person, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960): Nonviolent protests at a segregated lunch counter in North Carolina, led by four African American college students.
• Freedom Rides (1961): Interracial groups of activists rode buses through the South to test desegregation, facing violence and arrest.
• March on Washington (1963): Hundreds of thousands gathered in Washington, D.C. to advocate for civil and economic rights, where Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Key Figures

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Leader of the movement, advocated for nonviolent civil disobedience.
• Rosa Parks: Symbol of resistance against segregation, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
• Malcolm X: Advocate for black nationalism, converted to Islam and became a prominent figure before his assassination in 1965.
• Thurgood Marshall: First African American to serve on the Supreme Court, argued several landmark civil rights cases.

Legislation and Outcomes

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Protected African Americans' right to vote, outlawing literacy tests and poll taxes.
• Fair Housing Act of 1968: Prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.

Impact and Legacy

• The Civil Rights Movement achieved significant legal and social changes, ending segregation and discrimination.
• Inspired social movements for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and disability rights.
• Continues to influence contemporary social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter.

Overview

• The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement in the United States that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s.

Key Events

• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white person sparked a 381-day boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., resulting in the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional.
• Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960): Four African American college students, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil, staged nonviolent protests at a segregated lunch counter in North Carolina, sparking similar protests across the South.
• Freedom Rides (1961): Interracial groups of activists rode buses through the South to test desegregation, facing violence and arrest, which drew international attention to the Civil Rights Movement.
• March on Washington (1963): Hundreds of thousands gathered in Washington, D.C. to advocate for civil and economic rights, where Dr. King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Key Figures

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Leader of the movement, advocated for nonviolent civil disobedience, and became a prominent figure in the movement.
• Rosa Parks: Symbol of resistance against segregation, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and became an iconic figure in the movement.
• Malcolm X: Advocate for black nationalism, converted to Islam, and became a prominent figure before his assassination in 1965.
• Thurgood Marshall: First African American to serve on the Supreme Court, argued several landmark civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education.

Legislation and Outcomes

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, education, and public accommodations.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Protected African Americans' right to vote, outlawing literacy tests and poll taxes, and authorized federal supervision of elections.
• Fair Housing Act of 1968: Prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Impact and Legacy

• The Civil Rights Movement achieved significant legal and social changes, ending segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
• Inspired social movements for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and disability rights.
• Continues to influence contemporary social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter, and remains a crucial part of American history and identity.