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Civil Rights Movement

People, places and events that shaped the United States Civil Rights Movement.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the main figures in the Civil Rights Movement. He was born in 1929 and eventually led and influenced millions through his espousal of non-violent protest against segregation and racial discrimination. King was assassinated in 1968. Learn more about this enigmatic and amazing person through this biography.
Overview of Civil Rights Legislation, Supreme Court Cases, and Activities
Here is an overview of major civil rights legislation, supreme court cases, and activities of the 1950s and 1960s.
Making History in Selma, Alabama
For the first time in Selma, Alabama's history, an African-American was elected mayor of the city. Read about this city's struggles with segregation from About's African-American History Guide.
Malcolm X
Use these resources to learn more about this Civil Rights leader. Read his biography, hear his speeches and look through the FBI records concerning this controversial figure in American History.
Martin Luther King's Philosophy
Martin Luther King, Jr. felt that there were six important points to nonviolent protest. Find out about his philosophy from About's African-American History Guide, Jessica McElrath.
African American Odyssey: The Civil Rights Era
This American Memory exhibit has an awesome array of primary source materials including newspapers, cartoons, pictures and much more giving a broader look at the Civil Rights movement.
The Civil Rights Movement 1955-1965: An Introduction
This site provides informative, well-cited articles about the major Civil Rights events from 1955-1965. Included are essays on the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Sit-Ins, Freedom Rides and more.
Civil Rights Oral Histories
The University of Southern Mississippi has gathered together an amazing collection of oral histories telling about the Civil Rights movement from the people who lived through it. Some of these histories have links so you can actually hear the people firsthand.
Robert Weaver's 'The Negro As an American', 1963
In 1966, Robert Weaver became the first African American Cabinet Secretary as the director of Housing and Urban Development. Read the text of this speech by him in 1963 dealing with the problems African-Americans faced in America.
Timeline of the Civil Rights Movement
View this annotated timeline from CNN detailing the modern and the early Civil Rights movements. Please note: The earlier events are located after the modern activities.

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