The Civil Rights Movement The 1960’s
The Sit-Ins and Freedom Rides On the afternoon of February 1, 1960, Joseph McNeil and Franklin McCain, both African American, sat down at the “whites only” section of the Woolworth’s department store lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. The waitress refused to serve them, but they sat at the counter until the store closed for the day. The two college students returned the following morning with about 20 more students.
The Sit-Ins and Freedom Rides Sit-in – a demonstration in which protestors sit down in a location and refuse to leave. Form of nonviolent protest No violence was condoned even in self defense
Freedom Rides Freedom rides – Bus trips by civil rights workers through several southern states in which protesters challenged illegal bus segregation.
With your group… Discuss the idea of sit-ins and freedom rides from the 1960’s. Why did African Americans think they were necessary? Does 2014 have activists like the freedom riders of the 1960’s? If so, what might they look like?
Who were some famous Civil Rights Leaders? With the people at your table, come up with a list of Civil Rights activists from the 1960’s? Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X Rosa Parks Jackie Robinson Thurgood Marshall Did you come up with anyone else?
Martin Luther King Jr. Famous Civil Rights activist Held boycotts, sit-ins, and demonstrations Arrested during a protest Letter from Birmingham Jail (excerpts) With the person sitting next to you, read the excerpt from the Letter from Birmingham Jail and answer the questions on your notesheet
Martin Luther King Jr. Police violence in Birmingham I have a dream Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. April 4, 1968
Malcolm X A leader of the Nation of Islam Members of this were known as black muslims The problem is still here Black Power movement – called for African Americans to have greater economic and political power Assassinated in February 1965
Rosa Parks Montgomery Alabama’s chapter of the NAACP Refused to give up her seat on the bus Rosa Parks interview