Arizona State University
HST 334 African American history since 1865
Unit I Lecture Notes
Spring 2022
A. Definition of Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement refers to a series of social and political movements that
aimed to secure equal rights and protections for African Americans in the United States.
It was a movement that sought to end racial discrimination and segregation, and promote
social justice and equality for all.
This movement was characterized by non-violent protests, civil disobedience, and legal
challenges to unjust laws and practices.
B. Overview of the Struggles for Equality and Justice
The struggles for equality and justice for African Americans have a long and complex
history in the United States, dating back to the era of slavery.
The Civil Rights Movement can be traced back to the mid-20th century, with the
landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which declared segregation in
public schools to be unconstitutional.
The movement gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s, with high-profile events such
as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Voting Rights Act of
1965.
C. Importance of the Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a pivotal moment in American history, which had far-
reaching effects on society and politics.
It led to the end of legal segregation and discrimination, and opened up new opportunities
for African Americans to participate fully in American society.
The Civil Rights Movement inspired other social justice movements, and continues to be
a source of inspiration for people around the world who are fighting for human rights and
equality.
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II. Early Struggles for Civil Rights
A. African American Activism in the 19th and Early 20th Century
African Americans have been fighting for their civil rights since the time of slavery, but
the struggle gained new momentum after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.
African American leaders such as Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for
equal rights and justice for African Americans, and helped to establish organizations that
worked towards this goal.
Douglass founded the North Star newspaper in 1847, and later the National Afro-
American League in 1887. Du Bois helped to found the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
B. Plessy v. Ferguson and the Rise of Jim Crow Laws
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that segregation was
constitutional as long as the separate facilities were "equal."
This ruling led to the rise of Jim Crow laws in the South, which enforced segregation and
discrimination against African Americans in many aspects of daily life, such as
education, transportation, and housing.
African American leaders and activists fought against Jim Crow laws through boycotts,
protests, and legal challenges.
C. NAACP and the Legal Fight Against Segregation
The NAACP played a significant role in the legal fight against segregation, with
landmark cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and Shelley v. Kraemer.
Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 declared segregation in public schools to be
unconstitutional, overturning the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling.
Shelley v. Kraemer in 1948 challenged the use of restrictive covenants in housing, which
prevented African Americans from buying or renting homes in certain areas.
III. The Montgomery Bus Boycott
A. Background and Causes of the Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a civil rights protest that began in 1955 in
Montgomery, Alabama, after the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a
city bus to a white passenger.
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The boycott was sparked by years of frustration and anger over the segregation and
discrimination on public transportation in Montgomery.
The boycott was organized by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), a group
of African American leaders and activists, who called for a boycott of the city's buses
until they were desegregated.
B. Leadership of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was led by a young pastor named Martin Luther King Jr.,
who was chosen to be the president of the MIA.
King's leadership was characterized by his commitment to non-violent protest and his
ability to inspire and mobilize the African American community in Montgomery.
King's leadership during the boycott helped to establish him as a national figure in the
civil rights movement.
C. Successes and Failures of the Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was successful in ending the segregation of buses in
Montgomery, and served as a model for other protests and boycotts throughout the
country.
The boycott also highlighted the power of non-violent protest as a tool for social and
political change.
However, the boycott was not without its failures and challenges, including harassment
and violence against protesters, and the resistance of white segregationists.
IV. Nonviolent Resistance and Direct Action
A. The Nashville Sit-Ins
The Nashville Sit-Ins were a series of nonviolent protests in 1960 in Nashville,
Tennessee, where African American college students staged sit-ins at segregated lunch
counters.
The sit-ins were organized by the Nashville Student Movement, and were part of a larger
movement of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.
The success of the sit-ins led to the desegregation of lunch counters in Nashville and
inspired similar protests in other cities.
B. The Freedom Rides
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The Freedom Rides were a series of bus rides in 1961 by interracial groups of civil rights
activists, who rode through the South to challenge segregation on buses and in bus
terminals.
The Freedom Rides were organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and were met with violence and
hostility from white segregationists.
The Freedom Rides were successful in bringing national attention to the issue of
segregation and helped to inspire other nonviolent protests and actions.
C. Birmingham Campaign and the Children's Crusade
The Birmingham Campaign was a series of nonviolent protests and direct actions in 1963
in Birmingham, Alabama, organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC) and led by Martin Luther King Jr.
The Children's Crusade was a part of the Birmingham Campaign, in which hundreds of
young people, many of them children, participated in nonviolent protests and were met
with violence and arrests.
The Birmingham Campaign and the Children's Crusade were successful in pressuring the
city to desegregate public spaces and helped to bring national attention to the issue of
racial injustice in the South.
V. Civil Rights Legislation
A. Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that ruled
segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.
The case was brought by the NAACP and led by Thurgood Marshall, who later became
the first African American Supreme Court justice.
The ruling in Brown v. Board of Education was a major victory for the Civil Rights
Movement and helped to pave the way for further desegregation efforts.
B. Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that prohibited
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
The act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and was the result of years
of lobbying and activism by civil rights groups and leaders.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major achievement for the Civil Rights Movement
and helped to bring about significant changes in American society.
C. Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was another landmark piece of legislation that aimed to
address voting discrimination against African Americans.
The act prohibited discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes, and
provided federal oversight of voting practices in certain states.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was the result of years of activism and protests, including
the Selma to Montgomery March led by Martin Luther King Jr.
VI. Black Power and Beyond
A. Black Power Movement
The Black Power Movement emerged in the late 1960s as a response to the limitations of
the Civil Rights Movement and the continuing racial inequality in the United States.
The movement emphasized self-determination and empowerment for African Americans,
and rejected nonviolence and integration as the primary strategies for achieving equality.
Key figures in the Black Power Movement included Stokely Carmichael, Huey P.
Newton, and Angela Davis.
B. Women's Rights Movement
The Women's Rights Movement emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and focused
on issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, and gender discrimination.
The movement was led by activists such as Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and Bella
Abzug, and resulted in significant gains for women's rights, including the passage of the
Equal Rights Amendment.
However, the movement also faced criticism from women of color who felt that their
experiences of oppression were not fully represented.
C. LGBTQ Rights Movement
The LGBTQ Rights Movement emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and focused
on issues such as discrimination, harassment, and the right to marry.
Key events in the movement include the Stonewall Riots in 1969, which are often cited as
the beginning of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, and the AIDS crisis in the 1980s,
which led to increased activism and awareness.
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The movement has achieved significant gains in recent years, including the legalization
of same-sex marriage in the United States in 2015.
VII. Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement
A. Impact on American Society and Politics
The Civil Rights Movement had a profound impact on American society and politics,
leading to significant changes in laws and social attitudes.
The movement helped to end legal segregation and discrimination, and paved the way for
the election of the first African American president in 2008.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are considered landmark
pieces of legislation that have had a lasting impact on American society.
However, the movement's legacy is also contested, with some arguing that the gains
made have not gone far enough in addressing systemic racism and inequality.
B. Continuing Struggles for Racial Justice
Despite the progress made by the Civil Rights Movement, there are still significant
disparities in areas such as education, employment, and criminal justice that
disproportionately affect people of color.
The Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged in response to the police killings of
Black individuals, has brought renewed attention to issues of police brutality and
systemic racism.
Other social movements, such as the movement for immigrant rights and the movement
for environmental justice, have also highlighted the ways in which racial inequality
intersects with other forms of oppression.
C. Lessons for Contemporary Social Movements
The Civil Rights Movement offers lessons for contemporary social movements in terms
of strategy, tactics, and leadership.
The movement's emphasis on nonviolent resistance and direct action, as well as its use of
media and public protest, have been adopted by a wide range of social movements.
The movement's emphasis on grassroots organizing and leadership, as well as its
recognition of the importance of coalition-building and solidarity across different groups,
continues to inspire contemporary movements.
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However, the movement's shortcomings in terms of addressing issues of intersectionality
and addressing systemic inequality serve as a reminder of the need for ongoing reflection
and critique within social movements.
A. Reflection on the Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a defining moment in American history that challenged
the nation to live up to its ideals of equality and justice.
The movement was a testament to the power of ordinary people to effect change, and it
demonstrated the importance of solidarity and collective action in the face of injustice.
However, the movement also had its limitations, including its narrow focus on racial
equality and its failure to address the intersectional nature of oppression.
Reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement reminds us of the ongoing struggles for justice
and the need to address the root causes of systemic inequalit y.
B. Continuing Significance of the Struggles for Equality and Justice
The struggles for equality and justice that were at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement
continue to be relevant today, as we confront ongoing challenges related to racism,
sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression.
The movement's legacy provides inspiration for contemporary activists and offers lessons
in terms of strategy, tactics, and leadership.
However, the continuing significance of the struggles for equality and justice also
underscores the need for ongoing reflection, critique, and action.
C. Final Thoughts
The Civil Rights Movement was a transformative moment in American history that
challenged the nation to live up to its ideals of equality and justice.
The movement's legacy is a reminder of the ongoing struggles for justice and the need to
address the root causes of systemic inequality.
As we reflect on the Civil Rights Movement, we are reminded of the importance of
solidarity, collective action, and ongoing critique and reflection in the fight for justice.
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References
Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
New York: The New Press.
Branch, T. (1988). Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63. New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Carson, C. (1991). In Struggle: SNCC and the Black Awakening of the 1960s. Cambridge, MA:
Harvard University Press.
Crenshaw, K. W. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A Black feminist
critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics.
University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139-167.
Davis, A. (1981). Women, Race, and Class. New York: Random House.
Davis, A. Y. (2016). Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations
of a Movement. Chicago: Haymarket Books.
Duberman, M. (1993). Stonewall. New York: Dutton.
Foner, E. (2010). Give Me Liberty!: An American History. New York: W.W. Norton &
Company.
Garrow, D. J. (2015). Protest at Selma: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Voting Rights Act of
1965. Yale University Press.
Hine, D. C., Brown, H. E., & Clark, B. C. (2011). The African-American Odyssey: Combined
Volume (5th Edition). Pearson.
hooks, b. (1992). Black looks: Race and representation. South End Press.
Jones, P. (1997). The Selma of the North: Civil Rights Insurgency in Milwaukee. Cambridge:
Harvard University Press.
Litwack, L. (2009). How Free is Free?: The Long Death of Jim Crow. Cambridge: Harvard
University Press.
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Moraga, C., & Anzaldúa, G. (1983). This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women
of Color. Watertown, MA: Persephone Press.
Morris, A. D. (1984). The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement: Black Communities
Organizing for Change. New York: The Free Press.
Nash, G. B. (2009). The Other Rights Revolution: Conservative Lawyers and the Remaking of
American Government. Oxford University Press.
Taylor, K. Y. (2016). From #BlackLivesMatter to Black liberation. Haymarket Books.
Williams, J. (1987). Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965. New York:
Penguin Books.
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