Women’s Suffrage Movement

The women's suffrage movement was a social and political movement that aimed to secure voting rights for women. It began in the late 19th century and continued through the early 20th century. Women's suffrage activists organized rallies, marches, and protests to demand the right to vote. The movement gained momentum in the United States and Europe, and eventually led to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. The women's suffrage movement was a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality and paved the way for future feminist movements.

19th Amendment

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

• Established in 1909

• NAACP’s mission is to ensure the political, educational equality of minority group citizens of states and eliminate race prejudice.

• NAACP works to remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes

• Worked to investigate crimes against colored people.

• Provided legal assistance.

Catalysts for Change

Montgomery Bus Boycott

• Rosa Parks is known for remaining seated on a bus when asked to give her seat to a white passenger

• Jailed and released on bond

• People started to boycott the buses which quickly lost money

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

The "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" was written by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 while he was imprisoned for protesting against segregation. The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, arguing that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. King also criticizes white moderates who are more concerned with order than justice, and calls for immediate action to end segregation and achieve equality for African Americans.

• He wrote the letter in response to criticism from white clergy who urged him to be patient and wait for change.

• King argued that waiting for justice was not an option for black Americans who faced daily discrimination and violence.

• He defended the use of nonviolent direct action as a means of creating tension and forcing change.

• King criticized the white moderates who valued order over justice and were more concerned with maintaining the status quo than with ending segregation.

• He called for a coalition of all people who believed in justice to work together to end segregation and achieve equality.

16th Street Church Bombing

• Before the Church service on September 15, 1963.

• A bomb exploded under the stairs at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama .

• The explosion killed four young African American girls and injured 17 others.

• The bombing was caused by white supremacists

• The bombing was a tragic event that highlighted the violence and hatred of the civil rights era.

Black Power

• The Black Power Movement focused on black self-reliance and a counter-cultural revolution.

• Black Panther Party

• Symbolism of the ideology is the raised fist.

• “Black is Beautiful”

Malcolm X

• Minister in the Nation of Islam.

• Believer that blacks were the chosen people and whites were destined for eternal destruction because of their mistreatment of blacks.

• Decides that whites will never actually put to practice what they claim they will do, creating no real gain for blacks in civil rights.

• Advocated for separation rather than integration.

• He was a very influential speaker for the Black Power Movement.

Black Panther Party

• Saw itself as the protector of blacks.

• At odds with the police because they often dealt with police brutality.

• Panthers were intimidating, kept order, and provided aid to black communities.

Fashion

• Sunday Best → MLK and many other Civil Rights leaders wore to show respectability, similarity, and to combat negative stereotypes.

• Denim → Students, blacks, and the working poor used denim as a statement of solidarity.

• Black is Beautiful → African-inspired clothing put black women in defiance of white American Beauty Standards.

• Black Panther Party → Black leather jackets and black berets worn to display militancy.

March on Washington

In 1963, over 250,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. to advocate for civil and economic rights for African Americans, including integration of races. The event, which famously included Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Goals:

• Civil Rights for Blacks

• Job opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation

Methods:

• Public Demonstrations

• Speeches

Motivation:

• Years of discrimination in schools, workplaces, and pretty much everywhere else too.

Results:

• MLK’s “I have a Dream” speech, which is still well known today.

• One part of civil rights demonstrations

Civil Rights Act

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on many characteristics, including race and gender. It was proposed by President John F. Kennedy and later signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson to help to end segregation and promote equal rights for all Americans.

• Proposed by JFK but not passed until Lyndon Johnson reintroduced the legislation to Congress.

• Outlawed segregation in businesses like theaters, restaurants, and hotels. Banned discriminatory practices in employment and ended segregation in public spaces like pools, libraries, and public schools.

• Required reports to be made to the executive branch to help monitor the implementation.

• Section 601 of the Civil Rights Act states that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This includes programs and activities related to education, employment, healthcare, housing, and public accommodations.