Struggle for Racial and Gender Equality

Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Parents of Linda Brown sued Topeka schools when she was not allowed to attend a “white” school that was closer to her home than a school for African Americans 1954 - Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were unequal to white schools Ruling ended segregation in schools Overruled Plessy v. Ferguson which said separate was equal

Little Rock Nine 1957 – Arkansas was to begin desegregating its high schools Governor Orval Faubus called out the state's National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School To prevent any black students from entering Three weeks later, Faubus was overruled by President Eisenhower He sent 1,000 members of the U.S. Army to escort nine black students into Little Rock Central HS

Martin Luther King, Jr. Minister & Civil Rights Leader Challenged racial discrimination of the 1950s and 1960s Led Montgomery Bus Boycotts Led “March on Washington” and Delivered Famous “I Have a Dream” Speech Looking For a Day When Whites and Blacks Could Get Along Organized Southern Christian Leadership Conference Churches organized to challenge segregation Advocated non-violent, peaceful protests Nobel Prize Winner

Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, 1955 40,000 African Americans refuse to take the bus in Montgomery, Alabama Organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. Carpool, walk Lasts over a year City lost $4000 every day Supreme Court declares segregation on buses illegal - 1956

Voting Rights Act of 1965 To enforce the 15th amendment of the U.S. Constitution Ensure voting rights for African Americans in the South Outlawed poll taxes Outlawed literacy tests Deemed necessary when civil rights activists were murdered in Mississippi

Betty Friedan Wrote The Feminine Mystique, 1963 Questioned the role of women in society “Each suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries,…chauffeured Cub Scouts and Brownies…she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question – “Is this all?” Encouraged women to begin thinking outside of marriage and family Early women’s liberation movement

NOW National Organization of Women Founded by Betty Friedan, 1966 Purpose: “To take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, thereof in truly equal partnership with men.”

ERA Equal Rights Amendment First proposed in 1923 by Alice Paul Still not ratified by enough states to be part of the U.S. Constitution 35 of 38 necessary states have ratified Guarantees the Constitution will apply equally to men and women alike Is this a necessary amendment today? Why or why not?

Title IX Part of the Higher Education Act Bans discrimination on the basis of sex in schools, academics and athletics Levels the playing field Available degrees Athletic opportunities Scholarship opportunities Financial aid Specifically Applies to Higher Education