Civil Rights Movement

Significant Leaders

©2012, TESCCCU.S. History Unit 10, Lesson 1

Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

One of several African-Americans concerned with reforming American society and gaining equal rights by using civil disobedience or nonviolent action.

He earned his Ph.D. from the School of Theology at Boston University.

King assisted in coordinating the bus boycott which gained national and international attention.

He gained visibility as a black leader as well as experience in organization and leadership.

In 1957 he was instrumental in organizing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a consortium of churches and civic groups.

The SCLC supported sit-ins, boycotts, and protest marches in Birmingham, Alabama, beginning in 1963.

In August, during the March on Washington in support of the Civil

Rights Act of 1964, King set aside his prepared speech and rallied the 250,000 in attendance with “I have a dream today!” He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

©2012, TESCCC

Rosa Parks Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Born in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Rosa Parks grew up on her grandparents’ farm

near Montgomery and attended high school and

college in the city.

She and her husband were both active members of

the National Association for the Advancement of

Colored People (NAACP).

During a time when public transportation was

legally segregated, she was arrested on December

1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on a

bus to a white man.

Her actions prompted black church and business

leaders to conduct a boycott of the Montgomery

bus company, which began December 5, 1955.

On December 21, 1956 the U.S. Supreme Court

ruled that segregation on city buses was

unconstitutional.©2012, TESCCC

Malcolm X Malcolm Little (1925-1965), changed his

name to Malcolm X. He refused to go by a slave-owner’s surname.

African-American Muslim minister and civil rights advocate.

Where Dr. King promoted non violent protest, Malcolm X was at the other end of the spectrum and was often accused of preaching violence and black supremacy.

While in prison he joined the Nation of Islam and quickly became a leader in the movement.

He advocated for the separation of whites and blacks and was a proponent of integration.

In 1964 he left the Nation of Islam and became more willing to work with civil rights leaders.

In 1965 he was assassinated by three gunmen from the Nation of Islam.

Stokely Carmichael (1941-1998)

Black activist in the civil rights movement.

First rose to prominence as a leader of the

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

or (SNCC).

Although originally an integrationist he shifts

to more radical views.

He popularized the term “Black Power.”

He rose up to become the “Honorary Prime

Minister” of the Black Panthers.

After MLK is assassinated riots break out in

Washington D.C. and Carmichael was

blamed.

He and his wife left the U.S. and settled in

Africa where he spent the rest of his life.

Betty Friedan Writer, journalist and activist.

Co-founder of NOW (National Organization of Women) in 1966.

Wrote: The Feminine Mystique.

Inspired women to leave traditional roles and seek new opportunities in education, the workplace and leadership.©2012, TESCCC

César Chávez (1924-1997) César Chávez was a migrant

farm worker who sought to improve the lives of other migrant workers.

He served as national director of the Community Service Organization before resigning in 1962 to focus on organizing a union for farm workers.

He called for non-violent struggles for justice and used strikes, boycotts and other forms of civil disobedience to improve conditions for migrant workers.

Eventually strikes and boycotts caused 26 grape growers in California to recognize the United Farm Workers union in 1970 but growers continued to break contracts.

Chávez provided leadership for 30 years, protesting violence and urging cooperation between growers and workers.

The union continues to protect the rights of migrant laborers from unfair treatment on the part of employers.

©2012, TESCCC

Hector P. Garcia (1914-1996) Mexican American

physician and civil rights advocate, Dr. Garcia organized the American G.I. Forum (1948).

The organization was initially to improve veteran benefits and enhance medical needs.

The organization expanded to address educational and vocational training, housing, public education, poll taxes, voter registration, hospitalization and employment.

©2012, TESCCC

Dolores Huerta (1930- ) Civil Rights activist.

Activist for farmworkers’ rights.

Co-founder of the UFW (United Farm Workers Union).

Directed the national grape boycott which led to collective bargaining rights of workers.

She continues to help improve the lives of women, workers and immigrants.

©2012, TESCCC

Significant People Orval Faubus- governor of Arkansas,

best known for his stand in the desegregation of the Little Rock High School where he ordered Arkansas National Guard to stop African American students from entering the school

Lester Maddox- governor of Georgia, former restaurant owner who refused to serve African Americans ran for governor though he had not held a public office before

George Wallace- governor of Alabama, ran for U.S. president 4 times, fierce pro-segregationist, quote from his inaugural address, “I say segregation today, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever”

Significant People Thurgood Marshall- distinguished lawyer,

appointed to U.S. supreme court (1967) and established a record for supporting the voiceless American.

Oprah Winfrey- she was ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, according to some she is the most influential women in the world.

Sandra Day O’Connor- first woman appointed to the supreme court, appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Sonia Sotomayor- first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the supreme court by Barack Obama in 2009.

Eleanor Roosevelt- appointed by President Truman as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and became the first chairperson of the preliminary United Nations Commission of Human Rights.

Barack Obama- first African American President of the United States.

African American Organizations

NAACP- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded by W.E.B. DuBois

SCLC- Southern Christian Leadership Conference, adoption of nonviolent mass action as the cornerstone of strategy, started by MLK Jr.

SNCC- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, organized sit-ins and freedom rides, led by Stokely Carmichael in the 1960’s

CORE- Congress of Racial Equality, played a pivotal role in organizing the Civil Rights Movement

Native and Latino American Organizations

AIM- American Indian Movement, organized push for equal rights for Native Americans.

LULAC- League of United Latin American Citizens, created to combat discrimination against Hispanics.

UFW (United Farm Workers Union), founded by Chávez and Huerta.

Chicano Mural Movement- movement to paint murals on buildings and walls that depict Mexican-American culture.

Mexican Americans United- pushed for equal rights for Mexican-Americans.

Women’s Organizations

NAWSA- National American Women Suffrage Association, formed in 1890 to fight for women’s voting rights.

NOW- National Organization for Women, founded in 1966 by Betty Friedan, set up for the advancement of women.