civil rights movement
began in the 1950's by blacks to gain greater equality in American society
Thurgood Marshall
African American lawyer who led the legal challenge against segregation
Brown v. Board of Education
Supreme Court case that ruled that separate schools for whites and blacks were unequal, unconstitutional
Little Rock Arkansas
Incident where President Eisenhower sent federal troops to allow black students into the high school.
Rosa Parks
refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man and therefore was arrested
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
civil rights leader who preached nonviolent resistance
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
group formed by King and other civil rights ministers
"I Have a Dream"
famous speech made by King in regards to the civil rights bill
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
group formed by college students who wanted change for African Americans. sit-in- protest by occupying "whites-only" seats and refusing to get up.
Freedom Riders
rights protesters who rode buses trying to end segregation on buses and bus stations.
Interstate Commerce Commission
banned segregation in all travel facilities
Civil Rights Act of 1964
law that outlawed racial discrimination
Voting Rights Act of 1965
law that eliminated state laws that had prevented blacks from voting
de facto segregation
segregation that exists by practice and custom, was a big problem in the North
de jure segregation
segregation by law, and is eliminated by repealing laws
Malcolm X
civil rights leader who followed the views of Elijah Muhammad
Nation of Islam or Black Muslims
followers of Malcolm X
Stokely Carmichael
black leader that introduced Black Power
Black Power
movement that stressed African American pride and leadership
Black Panthers
African American political party created in 1966 to fight police brutality and urged violent resistance against whites
Kerner Commission
group formed by President Johnson to study and report on the cause of urban violence and race relations
Civil Rights Act of 1968
banned discrimination in housing
affirmative action
program aimed at hiring, including, and enrolling minorities.