Ruby Bridges
New Orleans, Louisiana
Was the first african american child to integrate into a white school
had to be escorted by court marshals
established the ruby bridges foundation
fights for accurate history teaching
fought for equality, discrimination, violence, prejudice
Diane Nash
Nashville, Tennessee
Sit in movement
supported Nonviolent protests
on the front lines of the freedom riders
Founding member of the SNCC
Was nominated by MLK Jr.
Leader of the Nashville Student Central Committee
Ella Baker
Mississippi
Social activist
sought to establish black economic power
fought against Jim Crow laws
Worked with MLK
under her guidance, SNCC became one of the most prominent civil rights groups/movements
MLK Jr.
Leader of SCLC
Leader of nonviolent peaceful protests
Organized the March on Washington
Organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
Won the Nobel Peace prize in 1964
Most famous for his “I Have A Dream Speech”
Assassinated in Memphis Tennessee
John Lewis
Atlanta, Georgia
Inspired by MLK and Rosa Parks
One of the big six leaders of the civil rights movement
Challenged Jim Crow Laws, and was one of the planners of the March on Washington
President of the SNCC for three years
John Lewis voting rights act amending the original voting rights act
Was in congress
Medgar Evans
Mississippi?
Turned away from an election at gunpoint
Fought for desegregation after being rejected from law school
President of the RCNL
led to non-violent protests against gas stations
Realized fighting for his country didn’t spare him from Racism
mississippi ’s first NAACP field officer
led protests to desegregate
Was discredited for having some kind of connection to the lynching of Emmett Till
Rosa Parks
Born in Tuskegee, Alabama
Valued her education
Drop out of school at 16 to care for her grandmother
Was arrested in 1955 because she didn’t give up her sit to a white male (42 yrs old)
was tired of racism
Was awarded the spin guard middle by the NAACP
Also received the MLK Jr award
12 years before she was arrested she was in the same situation but instead of not giving up her seat she just left the bus
Jackie Robinson
First black MLB player
Used his salary to support NAACP and support desegregation
was refused service with his team at restaurants and hotels
icon for young athletes
impacted the full integration of the MLB
MLB now has a Jackie Robinson day where everyone wears his number
Malcolm X
Prison 1946-62
Experienced racism by the KKK in Michigan
adopted last name X and rejected slave name
Organized Islamic temples
Believed in using violence in the fight for civil rights if needed
converted to semi Islam then joined the nation of Islam
Founded Islam’s newspaper
Expressed the pent-up anger of African Americans
Criticized MLK for his peaceful approach
Help spread and lead black nationalism
Founded the organization of Afro American Unity
created greater tension between blacks and whites
James Meredith
Mississippi
first experienced of racism on train with brothers
earned a law degree in politics
lead march against fear
currently 89
First African American to integrate the University of Mississippi
The Little Rock Nine
15-17 years old
All from little Rock Arkansas
were chosen to go to an all-white school
10,000 marshals were in front of the table sent by the mayor to not let them into school
were bullied and harassed a lot by other students
were all high school students
Fought for desegregation in schools
each started multiple civil rights movements and organizations
Andrew Young
Atlanta, Georgia
Assisted MLK in protests
Director of the SCLC
Helped with the March on Washington
Fought against segregation and blacks having the ability to vote
Thurgood Marshall
Houston, Texas
helped to desegregate schools (University of Maryland)
chief of NAACP
staff lawyer for the NAACP
won 29 out of the 32 cases he argued
notable for Murray v Pearson
The University of Maryland had denied access to a black woman
Won and desegregated University of Maryland
most notable for the Brown v Board of education win
This was an example of what happens when you use the court system effectively
was nominated by President Johnson and Became supreme court justice in the