Civil Rights = Equality
LaKylie Moreland
The Power of Silent Rebels
The civil rights movement had a huge impact on showing how important equality really is. Every thing was separated in the 1950's. African Americans found it very unfair and held non-violent protests: sit-ins and boycotts. Whites came to realization that it wasn't fair, so the first step was to make things "separate but equal." Both races were giving the same opportunities but not allowed to use the same area. Whites usually had better/nicer areas than the blacks, but it was viewed as fair because the blacks still had the same "luxury". Further protests happened before whites realized segregation was not right. Schools became integrated along with many other things. The United States still deals with racism to this day, but it has been greatly improved. We are, for the most part, treated equally.
Steps to Success
When president Eisenhower refused to hold a White House Conference on Civil Rights, SCLC led a prayer march consisting of 25,000 people on the Lincoln Memorial. Speakers shot for non-violent resistance against the struggle, boycotts, and sit-ins, and strikes. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was created on behalf of African Americans still unable to vote in southern states. It was in the media about non-violent sit-ins - comics, newspapers, and manuals. More and more sit-ins occurred, resulting in integrated lunch counters.
King and the SCLC began emphasizing economic justice, including desegregating housing, schools, and work places. In the process of all the struggle, there were many arrested and some murdered. It did not go to waste. All the sit-ins, boycotts, and movements helped them achieve rights. Equality is still on its way.
Seat of a Lifetime
Separate but Equal
March to Freedom
The Big 5
- 14th Amendment- Grants citizenship to African Americans. It forbids deprivation of any race to their rights.
- Jackie Robinson- He is the first African American to make it into major league. He overcame many obstacles to achieve his goals.
- "I Have a Dream" Speech- MLK gave his famous I had a dream speech. He wanted to support the movement by pushing blacks to keep going even though it was hard. King was later assassinated by James Earl Ray
- Baptists Church Bombing- A racially motivated attack on September 15th by the members of the Klu Klux Klan.
- March from Selma to Montgomery- The purpose was to help blacks in the south to register to vote. It resulted in some being severely beaten by police. Another march led by MLK made it to a prayer session on Edmund Pettus Bridge, then a third march without police intervention from Selma to Montgomery.