Leaders and Legislation of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_civil_rights_leaders
http://encarta.msn.com/related_761580646_0/black_power_leaders.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html
Legislation:
Civil Rights Act of 1964
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/civil-rights-act/
Voting Rights Act http://www.justice.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro.php
Leaders:
Martin Luther King Jr.
Stokeley Carmichael
Angela Davis
Malcom X
Thurgood Marshall
Julian Bond
Roy Wilkins
The Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement were two significant movements in the United States history that fought for racial equality and social justice for African Americans. Both movements had influential leaders and legislative achievements. Let's dive deeper into both movements and their leaders.
1. Civil Rights Movement:
The Civil Rights Movement aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent protests, demonstrations, and legal actions. It primarily spanned from the 1950s to the 1960s.
Key Leaders:
- Martin Luther King Jr: A Baptist minister and civil rights activist who advocated for nonviolent resistance and equality for African Americans. He is best known for his iconic speech, "I Have a Dream".
- Rosa Parks: An African American woman who sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.
- Thurgood Marshall: An attorney who played a crucial role in dismantling segregation, serving as lead counsel for the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education.
Legislative Achievements:
- Civil Rights Act of 1964: This law outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended racial segregation in public facilities and banned employment discrimination.
- Voting Rights Act of 1965: This act aimed to overcome legal barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote by prohibiting discriminatory practices like literacy tests and poll taxes.
2. Black Power Movement:
The Black Power Movement emerged in the 1960s as a response to the slow progress of the Civil Rights Movement. It placed a greater emphasis on self-determination, self-defense, and pride in African heritage.
Key Leaders:
- Malcolm X: A prominent Black Muslim minister and human rights activist who preached self-defense and self-reliance. He advocated for black economic and political power before his assassination in 1965.
- Stokely Carmichael: A leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who popularized the term "Black Power" and called for black political and economic empowerment.
Legislative Achievements:
While the Black Power Movement did not have specific legislative achievements like the Civil Rights Movement, it had a profound impact on empowering African Americans and promoting a sense of racial pride and identity.
To further explore the leaders and legislative achievements of both movements, you can conduct additional research using reliable sources like books, academic articles, primary source materials, and verified websites.