The Civil Rights Movement African Americans... Then & Now ! Is the civil rights movement still important today?

Civil Rights Leaders Malcolm X Martin Luther King Coretta Scott King Rosa Parks Sojourner Truth Al Sharpton Barack Obama Ruby Bridges

What are Civil Rights? Civil rights are personal rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of Types of Rights: o Freedom of speech o The right to vote o Due process of law o Equal protection of the laws o Protection from unlawful discrimination.

Civil War Amendments! 13 th Amendment: abolished slavery. 14 th Amendment: provided the basis for national government protection of rights. 15 th Amendment: guaranteed voting rights for black men.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott The Montgomery Bus Boycott officially started on December 1, That was the day when the blacks of Montgomery, Alabama, decided that they would boycott the city buses until they could sit anywhere they wanted, instead of being relegated to the back when a white boarded.

Sit-Ins The basic plan of the sit-ins was that a group of students would go to a lunch counter and ask to be served. If they were, they'd move on to the next lunch counter. If they were not, they would not move until they had been. If they were arrested, a new group would take their place. The students always remained nonviolent and respectful.

Freedom Rides In 1946, the Supreme Court ruled that making Blacks sit in the backs of buses traveling from state to state, while white passengers sat in the front, was unconstitutional. In 1947, a group of Blacks and Whites planned a "Journey of Reconciliation" to test the Supreme Court’s ruling. This group rode buses together to see if the new law worked, but was arrested in North Carolina by people who were against Blacks being treated as equals.

The March on Washington President Kennedy proposed a new civil rights bill. To show that the bill had widespread support, civil rights groups united to organize a March on Washington. Over 250,000 people from around the nation, arriving in special trains and 2,000 chartered buses, descended on Washington, DC on August 28, There Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered the closing address, his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Important Facts! Executive order 9981 – president Truman was determined to integrated the armed forces. His executive order issued in 1948 ended segregation in the military. Freedom summer – in the summer of 1964 activist led voter registration drives in the south for African Americans. Black power – in 1966 civil rights activist began calling for black power. They wanted African Americans to have economic and political power as well as pride in their African heritage. Black panther party – the black panther party demanded economic and political rights. Unlike nonviolent civil rights leaders, the black panthers were prepared to fight.

Role Play: Rosa Parks Bus Driver: Miss. Please get up and choose a different seat so this lovely white lady can sit down. Rosa Parks: I will not. I deserve a seat just as much as she does. Bus Driver: Now you know that rules on my bus! Move your seat or get off of my bus. Rosa Parks: Absolutely not. I am not doing either of those things so if you want me to move your going to have to move me! Bus Driver: I am not going to ask you again lady. Get off of my damn bus. Rosa Parks: NO! Bus Driver: Someone call the police because we don’t have to take this from her kind. Rosa Parks: Do what you have to do sir. * Shortly after the police arrive and arrest Rosa Parks without even finding out what happened. All they needed to know that it was a black woman not agreeing with a white person and that was a crime in their opinion. This is the start of the Montgomery Bus Boycott!