The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a series of political movements for equality before the laws peaked in the 1960’s. During the period of 1954-1965, many gains were made in the progress of desegregation. In 1954, the landmark case of Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas deemed that separate education facilities for the races were unconstitutional. Though the ruling was a significant victory in the movement, the process of overturning segregation was just beginning (Beacham, T. Gilmartin, B., Grobman, S, Ling, C., & Rhee, V. (Producers), Libretto, J. (Director), 2004). In 1964, the passing of The Civil Rights Act banned discrimination in employment practices and public accommodations. In 1965, The Voter Rights Act insured all citizens had the right to vote and eliminated discriminatory “tricks” often used in southern states to prevent African Americans from going to the polls (Bowles, 2011,Chapter 4:6). These momentous strides were not without the painful realities of violence and death for many who supported the movement.

Though the movement centered on African Americans, other minorities wanted equality as well. Women, Mexican Americans, and American Indians sought out methods of equality during this time of change in the country. In the 1960’s the United Farm Workers of American (UFW), led by Cesar Chavez, started a strike and boycott of table grapes that gained nationwide support. Women, through voices like Gloria Steinem, called for aid to female workers and poverty stricken mothers (Steinem, 1970). Organizations, like the American Indian Movement (AIM), called for an end to the mistreatment of American Indians by police and to improve prospects for jobs, education, and housing.

As the movement progressed, it also began to unravel in the mid 1960’s. Different views began to emerge on the heels of increasing riots