CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

The civil rights movement was a struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the
1950s and 1960s for Black Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the United States.

 The Civil Rights Movement is an umbrella term for the many varieties of activism
that sought to secure full political, social, and economic rights.
 Civil rights activism involved a diversity of approaches, from bringing lawsuits in
court, to lobbying the federal government, to mass direct action, to black power.
 The efforts of civil rights activists resulted in many substantial victories, but also met
with the fierce opposition of white supremacists.

civil rights, guarantees of equal social opportunities and equal protection under the law,
regardless of race, religion, or other personal characteristics.

How can we help/ ways to support social justice and civil rights:

1. Share your support for social justice and civil rights causes and re-share what others are
saying on social media.
2. Use your talents to drive change.
3. Educate yourself and share what you’ve learned.
4. Advocate for your employer to adopt or strengthen diversity and inclusion practices.
5. Amplify and promote underrepresented voices.
6. Create space for dialogue and exchange of information and ideas.
7. Mentor or tutor a child in need, you will find a way to make a difference in a child’s life.
8. Seek to understand the history of the land you currently occupy, and become involved in
local activist groups. There are over 428,000 volunteers needed with over 86,000 virtually
for advocacy and human rights.
9. Advocate for creating cultural exchanges within your child’s school.
10. Volunteer at your local library.
11. Volunteer for LGBTQIA+-related causes and organizations.
12. Help to shrink the inequality gap by giving your time to combat food insecurity and
homeless.
13. Contribute to your second-language proficiency.
14. Given the additional pressures of the ongoing worry about the pandemic and its impacts
which are disproportionately hitting BIPOC communities, many people are having an even
more difficult time than usual.
15. Organize a group volunteering event at your workplace.

1. Choose to support racial justice every day. Racial justice is the systemic fair treatment of
everyone regardless of race to create equitable opportunities and outcomes for all.
2. Educate yourself. Education is an essential part of organizing for change, according to
Shakti Butler, president and founder of the social justice and equity movement-building
organization World Trust.
3. Donate money. Monetary donations to bail funds and organizations, specifically led by
people of color who are doing the work on the ground, are also helpful.
4. Have difficult conversations. “This moment provides us with an opportunity to have the
conversations that we haven't had before to go deeper and be willing to push, push
ourselves, and be pushed,”
5. Take political action. Voting in local and federal elections is essential to reforming policing
practices and addressing racial inequities.
6. Safely join a protest. Peaceful protests have played a role in human rights movements
around the world, from Civil Rights Movement marches in the US to the efforts to dismantle
apartheid in South Africa.

Protests and the Civil Rights Movement | History

As the protesters neared the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were blocked by Alabama state
and local police sent by Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, a vocal opponent of
desegregation. Refusing to stand down, protesters moved forward and were viciously beaten
and teargassed by police and dozens of protesters were hospitalized.
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Bloody Sunday
The entire incident was televised and became known as “Bloody Sunday.” Some activists
wanted to retaliate with violence, but King pushed for nonviolent protests and eventually
gained federal protection for another march.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
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Voting Rights Bill

When President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965, he took
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 several steps further. The new law banned all voter literacy tests
and provided federal examiners in certain voting jurisdictions.
It also allowed the attorney general to contest state and local poll taxes. As a result, poll
taxes were later declared unconstitutional in Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections in
1966.
Part of the Act was walked back decades later, in 2013, when a Supreme Court decision
ruled that Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional, holding that the
constraints placed on certain states and federal review of states' voting procedures were
outdated.
Civil Rights Leaders Assassinated
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Flashback: RFK Speaks After MLK Killed

The civil rights movement had tragic consequences for two of its leaders in the late 1960s.
On February 21, 1965, former Nation of Islam leader and Organization of Afro-American
Unity founder Malcolm X was assassinated at a rally.
On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Martin Luther King Jr.
was assassinated on his hotel room's balcony. Emotionally-charged looting and riots
followed, putting even more pressure on the Johnson administration to push through
additional civil rights laws.
Fair Housing Act of 1968
The Fair Housing Act became law on April 11, 1968, just days after King’s assassination. It
prevented housing discrimination based on race, sex, national origin and religion. It was also
the last legislation enacted during the civil rights era.
The civil rights movement was an empowering yet precarious time for Black Americans. The
efforts of civil rights activists and countless protesters of all races brought about legislation
to end segregation, Black voter suppression and discriminatory employment and housing
practices.

Sources
A Brief History of Jim Crow. Constitutional Rights Foundation.
Civil Rights Act of 1957. Civil Rights Digital Library.
Document for June 25th: Executive Order 8802: Prohibition of Discrimination in the Defense
Industry. National Archives.
Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-In. African American Odyssey.
Little Rock School Desegregation (1957). The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education
Institute Stanford.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Global Freedom Struggle. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research
and Education Institute Stanford.
Rosa Marie Parks Biography. Rosa and Raymond Parks.
Selma, Alabama, (Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965). BlackPast.org.
The Civil Rights Movement (1919-1960s). National Humanities Center.
The Little Rock Nine. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior: Little Rock
Central High School National Historic Site.
Turning Point: World War II. Virginia Historical Society.
The Civil Rights Movement: an introduction (article) | Khan Academy
Civil rights | Definition, Types, Activists, History, & Facts | Britannica
American civil rights movement | Key Facts | Britannica
Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Definition, Summary & Significance | HISTORY
7 Ways You Can Take Action for Racial Justice Right Now (globalcitizen.org)
The civil rights movement - explained in 5 minutes - mini history - 3 minute history for
dummies

The history of civil rights is a complex and important part of the broader history of human
rights and social justice focusing on marginalized and disadvantaged groups.

1. Early Struggles for Civil Rights:

- The concept of civil rights has roots in ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome, where
certain individuals had legal rights and protections.
- In the United States, the struggle for civil rights for African Americans began with the
abolitionist movement in the 19th century and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863,
which abolished slavery.

2. Jim Crow Era:

- After the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws that
enforced racial segregation and denied African Americans their civil rights.
- This era saw the rise of organizations like the NAACP (National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People), which fought for legal and political change.

3. Civil Rights Movement:

- The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a pivotal period in the struggle for
civil rights in the United States.
- Figures like Martin Luther King Jr. led peaceful protests, boycotts, and marches,
advocating for desegregation and equal voting rights.
 - Key events include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which were significant legislative
victories.

4. Women's Rights:
- The women's suffrage movement fought for women's civil rights, culminating in the 19th
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, granting women the right to vote.

5. Other Movements:
- Other civil rights movements have focused on the rights of Native Americans, LGBTQ+
individuals, people with disabilities, and various ethnic and religious minorities.

6. Global Expansion:
- Civil rights struggles are not limited to the United States. Similar movements for equality
and justice have occurred worldwide, addressing various forms of discrimination.

7. Contemporary Challenges:
- While significant progress has been made, challenges to civil rights persist, including
issues related to racial inequality, gender discrimination, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and
more.

Key accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement:

1. Desegregation: Ended racial segregation in public schools.

2. Civil Rights Acts: Passed laws banning racial discrimination in public places, employment,
and voting.

3. March on Washington: Raised awareness and support for civil rights.

4. End of Jim Crow: Dismantled laws enforcing segregation.

5. Landmark Legal Cases: Established key rights like legal counsel and interracial marriage.

6. Political Participation: Increased African American political engagement.

7. Global Inspiration: Inspired civil rights movements worldwide.

8. Civil Rights Organizations: Formed advocacy groups like the NAACP and SCLC.

9. Media Coverage: Brought racial injustice to national attention.

10. Improved Conditions: Contributed to better education and job opportunities for African
Americans.

Activity
-not active
-active years:1954-1968
-The Civil Rights Movement is not active today, still it affects us today. The changes it
achieved made the world a better place.

Purpose:
-to gain equal rights under the law in the United States
- TCRM – an umbrella term for the many varieties of activism that sought to secure full
political, social, and economic rights

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_rights_movement