IB HOA Civil Rights

Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Student-created & led civil right organization that worked for desegregation through sit-ins, freedom rides, & civil disobedience. They were established in 1960 to promote and use non-violent means to protest racial discrimination. They were the ones primarily responsible for creating the sit-in movement.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957, SCLC aimed to advance civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. The organization played a vital role in organizing events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

Established by James Farmer in 1942, CORE focused on using nonviolent direct action to address racial issues. It was instrumental in the Freedom Rides of the 1960s, challenging racial segregation in interstate transportation.

Nation of Islam

A religious and political movement founded in the 1930s, sought to uplift African Americans and promote self-reliance. Malcolm X was a prominent figure in the organization before his departure.

Black Panthers

Founded in 1966, they aimed to address systemic issues facing African Americans, advocating for self-defense and community programs. The group was a symbol of resistance during the Civil Rights era. The organization marked a shift in policy of the black movement, favoring militant ideals rather than peaceful protest. Revolutionary black nationalist and socialist organization. Core practice was its armed citizens' patrols to monitor the behavior of officers of the Oakland PD and challenge police brutality in Oakland, CA.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Established in 1909, the NAACP is one of the oldest civil rights organizations. It focuses on addressing racial discrimination through legal actions, lobbying, and advocacy. Had a legal defense fund that provided Thurgood Marshall as the lawyer in the Brown v. Board case.

Council of Federated Organizations (COFO)

___ was a coalition formed in 1962, consisting of various civil rights groups. It played a crucial role in organizing voter registration efforts and other activities during the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964.

Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP)

Formed in 1964, the MFDP was an alternative to the regular Democratic Party in Mississippi. It challenged the exclusion of African Americans and sought to represent the state at the Democratic National Convention.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

Institutions of higher education founded primarily to serve the African American community. HBCUs have played a significant role in providing education and fostering leadership within the Black community.

Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

Founded by Marcus Garvey in 1914, the UNIA aimed to promote black pride, economic self-sufficiency, and the establishment of an independent African homeland. It had a significant impact on the Pan-African movement.

Niagara Movement

was a civil rights group founded in 1905 by W.E.B. Du Bois and other African American leaders. It advocated for civil and political rights for African Americans and opposed the accommodationist policies of Booker T. Washington.

Democratic Party

traditionally associated with the Southern states, underwent significant transformations during the Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s), a period marked by activism and legislative efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination.

1968 Democratic Convention

held in Chicago was marked by protests and clashes between anti-Vietnam War demonstrators and the police. The convention nominated Hubert Humphrey for president, leading to increased polarization within the party.

1968 Olympic Team Track & Field

The 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City were significant for the raised fists and bowed heads of African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the medal ceremony. This gesture was a protest against racial inequality in the United States.

Dixiecrats

were Southern Democrats who opposed civil rights initiatives and the racial integration of public institutions. In 1948, they formed the States' Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrat Party) in protest of the Democratic Party's growing support for civil rights.

KKK

is a white supremacist organization founded after the American Civil War. It has a history of violence and terrorism against African Americans and other minority groups. has gone through multiple iterations and revivals over the years.

Freedom Riders

were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated Southern United States in 1961 to challenge the non-enforcement of Supreme Court decisions that declared segregated public buses unconstitutional.

Freedom Summer

was a 1964 voter registration drive in Mississippi, organized by civil rights groups to increase African American voter registration. It faced violent opposition, with three activists murdered, but it significantly increased African American voter participation. SNCC begin registering as many African Americans as possible to vote. Mixed races worked together. Selma Campaign - 1965 MLK leads 54 mile march to get voters - Riots broke out and it was on TV

Sit-ins

Sit-ins were a form of nonviolent protest during the civil rights movement, where activists would occupy segregated spaces, such as lunch counters, to protest racial segregation. They were a powerful tactic in the struggle for desegregation.

Bus Boycott

began in 1955, was a civil rights protest against the racial segregation of public buses in Montgomery, Alabama. It led to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

Atlanta Compromise

a speech given by Booker T. Washington in 1895, advocating for African Americans to accept segregation and disenfranchisement in exchange for economic opportunities and education.

March on Selma

The Selma to Montgomery marches were a series of three protest marches in 1965, organized to advocate for the right to vote for African Americans. The events, especially "Bloody Sunday,”: ccurred in Selma, Alabama, when state troopers violently attacked over 600 peaceful civil rights marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Birmingham

a focal point of the civil rights movement. The ______ campaign in 1963, with protests led by Martin Luther King Jr., aimed to end segregation and discriminatory practices in one of the most racially divided cities in the U.S. Nonviolent direct action culminated in widely publicized confrontations between young black students and white civic authorities. MLK jr get arrested for protesting. MLK writes his famous letter from a Birmingham jail. Moral responsibility to break unjust laws and to take direct action rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts. City officials used police dogs and fire hoses against the protestors.

Reaction to Birmingham

Shocked Americans demanded that President Kennedy take action to end the violence. Calling it a "moral issue," Kennedy proposed sweeping civil rights legislation. Civil rights leaders held a March on Washington to pressure the government to pass the President's bill.

24th Amendment

ratified in 1964, abolished the poll tax as a prerequisite for voting in federal elections. This helped eliminate a barrier that disproportionately affected African American voters in the Southern states.

Jim Crow Laws

were state and local laws in the United States that enforced racial segregation and discrimination, particularly in the Southern states, from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century. These laws were eventually dismantled through civil rights efforts.

Poll Tax

A tax imposed on individuals as a requirement for voting. Historically used as a means to disenfranchise African Americans and other minority groups by making it difficult or impossible for them to afford the tax.

Literacy Tests

Examinations that voters were required to pass in order to participate in elections. Used to disenfranchise African Americans by making the tests subjective and intentionally difficult.

HOLC (Home Owners' Loan Corporation)

Created during the New Deal, HOLC was a federal agency that assessed the risk of lending in various neighborhoods. It played a role in codifying racially discriminatory lending practices, known as redlining.

Steering

The practice of directing or guiding homebuyers towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity. Real estate agents engaged in steering to maintain racial segregation in housing.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice where lenders refused loans or insurance to people in specific geographic areas based on their racial or ethnic composition. Redlining was often institutionalized through policies like those of the HOLC.

De jure segregation

Racial segregation enforced by law, as was prevalent in the southern United States before the Civil Rights Movement.

De facto segregation

Racial segregation that occurs without explicit legal enforcement, often due to societal norms, economic disparities, and historical patterns.

Affirmative Action

Policies and practices designed to increase opportunities for underrepresented minority groups in education, employment, or other areas.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. Sped up school integration. A group of southern senators blocked it for 80 days using a filibuster. Supporters put together enough votes to end the filibuster. The measure finally passed in the Senate. Established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for African Americans, including the prohibition of literacy tests and other discriminatory practices. Enabled federal examiners to register voters. Considered to be the most effective piece of civil rights legislation ever enacted in the country.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

A Supreme Court decision (1857) that held that enslaved individuals were not U.S. citizens and had no rights, even if they lived in free states. Declared Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A Supreme Court decision (1896) that upheld racial segregation under the doctrine of "separate but equal." This leads to Jim Crow Laws in the South.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case (1954) that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. NAACP led by Thurgood Marshall overturns Plessy. Linda Brown civil rights denied because she can't attend white school.

MLK (Martin Luther King Jr.)

A prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement, known for advocating nonviolent civil disobedience to advance civil rights and equality.

Malcolm X

A prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, initially associated with the Nation of Islam and later becoming a leading advocate for black empowerment and self-defense.

Stokely Carmichael

A civil rights activist and leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who popularized the term "Black Power."

James Farmer

was a civil rights activist and a co-founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in 1942. He played a key role in organizing nonviolent protests and sit-ins during the civil rights movement, advocating for racial equality and justice.

James Meredith

was the first African American student admitted to the University of Mississippi in 1962. His enrollment, accompanied by federal intervention, sparked a major confrontation and riots, highlighting the challenges of desegregation in higher education during the civil rights movement. The federal courts ordered the school to desegregate in 1962. Mississippi's governor resisted, creating a stand-off between the federal government and the state government. When Meredith arrived on campus, a riot ensued; two men were killed in the fighting. Meredith graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1963. He later obtained a law degree from Columbia University.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement known for her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. This act of civil disobedience triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the struggle against racial segregation.

Little Rock Nine

refers to a group of African American students who, in 1957, were the first to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their enrollment was met with opposition, leading to the intervention of federal troops to ensure their safety and enforce desegregation. Many states refused to desegregate schools. AR Gov. Faubus orders National Guard to stop nine students from entering H.S. Dwight Eisenhower places National Guard under Federal Control to escort nine students. Faubus shuts down schools rather then allow integration.

Thurgood Marshall

was a prominent lawyer and the first African American Supreme Court Justice, appointed in 1967. Before joining the Supreme Court, he successfully argued the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the end of racial segregation in public schools.

JFK

JFK, or John F. Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. His presidency (1961-1963) saw increased federal involvement in civil rights issues, including his support for desegregation and the introduction of comprehensive civil rights legislation. President Kennedy intervened, assigning federal marshals to protect Meredith.

RFK

RFK, or Robert F. Kennedy, was a key figure in the Kennedy administration and later served as the U.S. Attorney General. He played a crucial role in advancing civil rights and social justice causes, working closely with civil rights leaders and advocating for legislative reforms.

LBJ

36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He succeeded John F. Kennedy after Kennedy's assassination in 1963. Johnson played a crucial role in advancing civil rights legislation, most notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His administration aimed to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. Johnson's commitment to civil rights was evident in his famous "We Shall Overcome" speech. Johnson continued to work for passage of Kennedy's civil rights legislation through his Great Society which was meant to continue JFK's "war on poverty"

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon, the 37th President, served from 1969 to 1974. While not a central figure in the civil rights movement, his presidency witnessed the implementation of affirmative action policies and some progress in desegregation efforts in the aftermath of the 1960s civil rights legislation.

Earl Warren

was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969. The Warren Court issued several landmark decisions that shaped civil rights, including Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, and other rulings promoting civil liberties.

Jim Crow (character)

refers to the system of state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. The term is derived from a minstrel character, and "Jim Crow laws" were designed to perpetuate racial discrimination and inequality.

Bull Connor

a public safety commissioner in Birmingham, Alabama, during the 1960s, became infamous for his aggressive opposition to the civil rights movement. His use of police dogs and fire hoses against peaceful protesters drew national attention and contributed to public support for civil rights reforms.

George Wallace

was a four-time Governor of Alabama known for his staunch segregationist stance. He is remembered for his pro-segregation rhetoric and his attempt to block the desegregation of the University of Alabama, which required federal intervention and the National Guard. "Segregation now, Segregation tomorrow, Segregation forever!"

Strom Thurmond

was a U.S. Senator known for his strong opposition to civil rights legislation. He filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for over 24 hours, and later switched to the Republican Party due to his disapproval of Democratic support for civil rights.

Fannie Lou Hamer

was a voting rights and civil rights activist. She co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and was known for her powerful speeches advocating for Black voting rights. She played a crucial role in challenging racial segregation at the Democratic National Convention in 1964.

Marcus Garvey

was a Jamaican-born leader who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). He advocated for Black economic independence and the promotion of a strong Black identity. His "Back to Africa" movement aimed to establish a connection between people of African descent worldwide.

J. Edgar Hoover

was the first Director of the FBI. While he played a significant role in establishing the FBI, he also targeted civil rights leaders and organizations. his FBI engaged in surveillance, harassment, and attempts to undermine figures associated with the civil rights movement.

Huey Newton

co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The organization aimed to address police brutality and economic inequality in Black communities. he and the Panthers advocated for armed self-defense and community empowerment, making them a significant force in the civil rights movement.

Bobby Seale

Seale was a co-founder of the Black Panther Party. He, along with Newton, developed the Ten-Point Program that outlined the party's goals. Seale was involved in the party's community programs and activism, emphasizing the importance of self-determination and empowerment.

Fred Hampton

was a leader in the Black Panther Party and the chairman of the Illinois chapter. He organized the Rainbow Coalition, a multiracial alliance aimed at addressing systemic issues. Hampton was tragically killed during a police raid in 1969, a event that raised concerns about government repression.

Emmett Till

Till, a 14-year-old African American, was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman. His death and the subsequent acquittal of his killers became a catalyst for the civil rights movement, shedding light on the violence and racism faced by African Americans.

Medgar Evers

was a field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi. He played a pivotal role in the desegregation of the University of Mississippi and worked on voting rights. was assassinated in 1963, becoming one of the first high-profile martyrs of the civil rights movement.

Frederick Douglass

an escaped slave who became a prominent abolitionist, writer, and orator. He advocated for the abolition of slavery and equal rights for African Americans. his compelling speeches and writings made him a key figure in both the abolitionist and civil rights movements.

Booker T. Washington

was an educator and prominent Black leader. He believed in vocational and industrial education for African Americans, emphasizing economic self-sufficiency. While criticized by some for his accommodationist approach as stated in his Atlanta Compromise, he was a significant voice in the post-Reconstruction era. His accommodationist approach was based on his theory that African Americans could not contend with social and political oppression and so should focus on developing their economic power. This could be achieved by acquiring manual skills.

W.E.B. Du Bois

a sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist. He co-founded the NAACP and advocated for the "talented tenth" of the Black population to receive higher education and become leaders. his approach differed from Booker T. Washington's, as he emphasized the importance of political and civil rights.

Jesse Owens

was a track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His victories challenged Adolf Hitler's notion of Aryan racial superiority. Although he faced racial discrimination at home, his athletic achievements were a powerful statement against racial prejudice.

Jackie Robinson

was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. His breaking of the color barrier in 1947 was a significant step toward racial integration in sports. his achievements on and off the field contributed to the broader civil rights movement.

Muhammad Ali

born Cassius Clay, was a world-renowned boxer and activist. He refused induction into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, citing religious and moral objections. His stance cost him his boxing titles temporarily but solidified his status as a symbol of resistance against racial injustice and the Vietnam War.

Ruby Bridges

was the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960. Her enrollment was a pivotal moment in the struggle against segregation in education. her bravery and the challenges she faced underscored the broader fight for civil rights in the United States.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

President of the US1952-1960. President during: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, The Warren Court, Passing of the Civil Rights Bills of 1957, & 1960, Crisis in Little Rock, Montgomery Bus Boycott

Ole Miss

James Meredith wins court decision to allow him to enter Ole Miss. Gov. Ross Barnett refused to admit him. JFK responds and tells Barnett to allow Meredith in.

Childrens March

May 2nd , 1963 MLK and Shuttlesworth have over 1000 children protest. Alabama Police commissioner Sprays kids with high powered water hoses and attack dogs.

March on Washington

for Jobs and Freedom, held on August 28, 1963, was a pivotal event during the Civil Rights Movement, where over 250,000 people gathered to advocate for economic and civil rights for African Americans. It is famous for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which called for racial equality and an end to discrimination.

Albany Movement

was a significant civil rights initiative in Albany, Georgia, during the early 1960s. Its goal was to challenge and eliminate racial segregation and discrimination within the city. The movement, led by figures from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the NAACP, employed nonviolent protest techniques such as sit-ins and marches. Despite facing numerous obstacles and difficulties, it played a crucial role in setting the stage for future civil rights activism in the Southern United States.

Greensboro Sit-In

was a pivotal protest against racial segregation that took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, beginning on February 1, 1960. Four African American college students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter, sparking a series of similar protests across the country. This nonviolent act of civil disobedience became a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the struggle against racial inequality and promoting desegregation.

Little Rock Nine

refers to a group of African American students who, in 1957, were the first to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their enrollment faced significant opposition, leading to federal intervention for their protection and the enforcement of desegregation. This event highlighted the intense resistance to integration in education during the civil rights movement.

harlem renaissance

was a cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s. It marked a period of significant achievement and influence for African American artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers, shaping American culture and challenging racial stereotypes.

a philip randolph

Labor leader, founder of Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

Actions

• Threatened 1941 March on Washington → forced Roosevelt action

• Organized 1963 March on Washington

separatism vs integrationism

Integrationism

Belief in full racial mixing and equal participation in society.
Associated with: King, NAACP.

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Separatism

Belief Black people should live separately to control their own communities.
Associated with: Malcolm X, Black Power.

13th amendment

• Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime

14th amendment

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves; guaranteed "equal protection of the laws" and "due process"

15th amendment

Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

24th amendment

no poll taxes