Untitled Flashcards Set


Contemporary America: Civil Rights Study guide

People

  1. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
     A leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, advocated for nonviolent protest and civil disobedience

  2. Malcolm X
    advocated for Black separatism and self-defense through violence

  3. Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture)
     A civil rights activist, involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party, known for coining the term “Black Power,” 

  4. Diane Nash
     A leader of the Civil Rights Movement and in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Nash helped organize the Nashville sit-ins, and was a leader in the Freedom Rides and the Selma March

  5. Daisy Bates
    integration of public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, was the head of the Arkansas NAACP and helped guide the Little Rock Nine

  6. John Lewis
    a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a chairman of the SNCC, and later served as a U.S. Congressman. He was known for his role in organizing the March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery March

Organizations

  1. Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
     A civil rights organization founded in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other religious leaders, advocated for nonviolent protest and focused on the moral and spiritual aspects of the fight for civil rights

  2. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
     A youth-led civil rights organization that played a key role in sit-ins, freedom rides, and voter registration campaigns

  3. Black Lives Matter (BLM)

Events

  1. Brown vs. Board of Education (Topeka, Kansas)
     1954 Supreme Court decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This case overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

  2. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
     A year-long boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white person. The boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., resulted in the desegregation of the city's buses.

  3. Little Rock Nine (1957)
     A group of nine African American students who were the first to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. They faced violent opposition, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to ensure their safety.

  4. Emmett Till (1955)
     A 14-year-old African American boy from Chicago who was lynched in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman. His murder and open-casket funeral held by his mother spurred the Civil Rights Movement.

  5. Southern Manifesto (1956)
     A document signed by 101 Southern members of Congress that opposed the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board decision and called for resistance to desegregation in schools and other public facilities.

  6. Sit-ins (1960s)
     Nonviolent protests where African Americans would sit at segregated lunch counters or other public facilities, demanding service

  7. Freedom Rides (1961)
     A series of bus trips taken by interracial groups of activists to challenge segregated bus terminals and facilities in the South. The riders were often met with violent opposition and arrests

  8. Selma March (1965)
     A series of marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to protest voter suppression and demand voting rights for African Americans

Legislation

  1. The Civil Rights Act of 1964
     prohibited discrimination in public places, schools, and employment. It aimed to end segregation and ensure equal access to public accommodations and employment

  2. The Voting Rights Act of 1965
    aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting. It prohibited literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that had been used to stop African Americans from voting in the South

Important Terms

  1. Institutional Racism
     A form of racism that is embedded in the policies, practices, and structures of institutions, such as schools, government, or the legal system. It results in unequal treatment or outcomes for different racial groups


  1. Tactics to End Institutional Racism

    1. Legally: Fighting through the courts (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education), advocating for changes in laws (e.g., Civil Rights Act of 1964).

    2. Socially: Promoting awareness and changing social attitudes through education, media, and activism (e.g., sit-ins, marches).

    3. Economically: Encouraging boycotts (e.g., Montgomery Bus Boycott), promoting economic empowerment for Black communities.

    4. Politically: Lobbying for policy changes, engaging in voter registration drives, and electing officials who support civil rights (e.g., the Voting Rights Act of 1965).

  2. Sit-ins, protests, and marches often combine these tactics, using nonviolent civil disobedience to demand change and raise awareness of institutional racism.

  3. Federal Government’s Response to Sit-ins and Freedom Rides
    The federal government often initially failed to intervene or supported state resistance to sit-ins and freedom rides. However, after violent reactions from white supremacists and the involvement of national media, the federal government eventually provided protection and enforced desegregation laws (e.g., federal marshals were sent to protect the Freedom Riders).

  4. Philosophies of Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) and MLK

    1. MLK advocated for nonviolence and integration, believing that peaceful protest and love could heal the divisions caused by racism.

    2. Kwame Ture initially supported Black nationalism and separatism, emphasizing Black pride and self-reliance, later calling for a more militant approach to achieving civil rights.

  5. Civil Disobedience – The 4 Steps
     Civil disobedience is the act of intentionally breaking a law or regulation to protest against what is seen as an unjust law. The four steps typically include:

    1. Collection of facts to determine if there is an injustice.

    2. Negotiation with the responsible authorities or institutions.

    3. Self-purification, where the protestors prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for the consequences.

    4. Direct action, which is the nonviolent act of protest or breaking the law to demonstrate opposition to injustice.