Civil Rights 1941-1970

Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968)

The Civil Rights Movement was a struggle for social justice and racial equality, primarily taking place from 1954 to 1968.
Emerges in the wake of World War II as African-American soldiers, having fought for freedom abroad, were less willing to accept segregation and discrimination at home.
Major events like the Brown vs Board of Education case in 1954, where segregation of public schools was deemed unconstitutional, triggered the movement.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56), led by Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., marked the start of organised, nationwide actions against racial segregation.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as the leader of the Civil Rights Movement using a policy of nonviolent civil disobedience, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) were key organisations in planning demonstrations and events.
Peaceful protests like the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 shaped the movement’s image.
The March on Washington also witnessed King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, ardently advocating racial harmony.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was an important landmark ensuring protection for African American voters, resulting in increased representation in local, state and national government.

Black Power & Civil Rights (1965-1970)

The mid-1960s saw the rise of the Black Power Movement, indicating a shift from earlier nonviolent methods of the Civil Rights Movement.
Groups like the Black Panther Party emerged, combining black nationalist ideas with socialist principles and emphasizing black self-reliance and self-defence.
Stokely Carmichael (later known as Kwame Ture), a leader in the SNCC, is attributed with popularising the phrase ‘Black Power’.
The Black Power Movement often clashed with the establishment, leading to incidents like the Watts Riots in Los Angeles, 1965.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was passed in the aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, which led to widespread civil unrest.
The act was an attempt to curb housing discrimination but it fell short as it did not provide strong enforcement mechanisms.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 are collectively known as the Civil Rights Acts, considered biggest legislative achievements of the Civil Rights Movement.