Civil Rights Era 1954 – 1975 A Brief Synopsis

Jim Crow Laws

Brown vs. Board of Ed Linda Brown was not allowed to attend an all-white school Case challenged 1896 Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy vs. Ferguson which upheld constitutionality of “separate but equal”

Brown vs. Board of Ed. (Continued) Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that segregation in schools was unconstitutional Thurgood Marshall with James Nabrit Jr. and George E.C. Hayes

Rosa Parks December 1955, Montgomery Alabama, she was arrested for failing to give up seat on bus Boycott supported by African Americans and organized by Martin Luther King Jr.

Rosa Parks (continued) Bus boycott lasted 381 days Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public transportation was illegal in 1956 Started Civil Rights movement with an inspirational leader

Non-violent Resistance King drew from teachings of Gandhi Peaceful means to effect change Founded the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his non-violent leadership

Crisis in Little Rock Nine African American students were not admitted to the all-white Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas Orval Faubus authorized National Guard to prevent students from entering

Crisis in Little Rock (Continued) Faubus recalled National Guard but angry mob was threatening students Eisenhower sent in 1,000 paratroopers and federalized National Guard so the students could enter safely

Students Stage Sit-ins In 1960, Greensboro, NC Four African- Americans sit at segregated lunch counter The sit-in becomes a popular way to protest

The Freedom Riders “Freedom Riders” rode buses into Southern segregated bus terminals Many “Freedom Riders” were met with violence in the South Freedom Rides took place in 1961 and 1963

Violence in Birmingham 1963 –MLK led a demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama fire hoses and dogs on demonstrators Kennedy sent in 3,000 troops to keep order and proposed new legislation

Civil Disobedience (Where else is U.S. history have you Civil Disobedience?) "one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."  Letter from a Birmingham Jail”  “Never before have written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers?  “Never before have written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers? “

The March on Washington 1963, 100 th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation 200,00 demonstrators merged at the Lincoln Memorial MLK delivered “I Have a Dream”speech

Civil Rights Act Only one-half of one percent of African American children in the 11 former Confederate states were attending desegregated schools Kennedy was assassinated and Johnson was able to get Civil Rights Act passed and Voting Rights Act passed

Black Muslims Founded in the 1930’s by Elijah Muhammad Embraced Islam Preached black nationalism Separatist

Malcolm X

Black Panthers Militant group, started as a self defense group. Used their 2 nd amendment rights. Helped to perpetuate the black power movement Used confrontations to force equal rights Leaders Huey Newton and Bobby Seale

Assassination of MLK MLK assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968 James Earl Ray

Riots in Response One week of riots in response to this assassination

Other Civil Rights and Activist Groups SDS- Students for a Democratic Society CORE- Congress for Racial Equality NAACP (National Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People) AIM- American Indian Movement NOW- National Organization of Women