The Civil Rights Movement from 1953 to 1968 was a time of great ideas, actions, and solutions. Many new ideas were born and many old ideas perished. This was a time when blacks demanded that they be given the same rights and opportunities as their white counterparts. These are the same rights that were granted to all citizens of the United States regardless of color. This movement produced many new leaders, philosophies, and ways of life. Due to the extent of this movement, we could not cover everything, but we tried to get the more salient points and give some background to them. If any specific topic interests you, a list of further readings is included. A lot can be learned from the past -- where you came from, how you got there, and where you are going. Hopefully this will give you a better understanding of where we are today.

Black Civil Rights in America has not been a phenomenon just of this century. It started the moment the first American slave thought about freedom. Fast forward to the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. When America looked to Russia and pointed out the social injustices going on there, Russia just turned their finger right around and pointed at us. Combine this with the booming economy of post-WWII America and the environment was right for the modern black Civil Rights Movement.

World War II helped to get the black Civil Rights Movement started in many ways. For starters, the armed forces were integrated earlier in the century. This served the purpose of letting white servicemen get to know and fight alongside black servicemen while also dispelling many white myths about blacks. When the GIs went back to the states, they did not forget what had happened overseas. The draft was in effect so this served to get a large cross section of white and black people into the service. Also the GI bill was created for the purpose of helping people in the armed forces get a college education. Many blacks and whites took advantage of this. As blacks started to become more educated more problems started to develop.

Problems such as not getting equal pay for equal work came about as blacks started to progress up the occupational ladder and get more professional jobs. Segregated schools, restaurants, and buses began to take on a new meaning. It just was not the way it was supposed to be in America. Being American citizens, blacks were entitled to all the same rights and priviledges as their white counterparts given to them by the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

The catalyst for the Civil Rights movement was the refusal of Rosa Parks to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. This sparked bus boycotts all across the South, which in turn officially started this era of black history...