1. Introduction to American Studies II The Civil Rights Movement: The 1950s and 1960s

2. Brown decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 1954 1954 Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) “Separate but equal” facilities are constitutional “Separate but equal” facilities are constitutional Unanimous decision written by Chief Justice Earl Warren Unanimous decision written by Chief Justice Earl Warren “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” Violate “equal protection clause” of the Fourteenth Amendment Violate “equal protection clause” of the Fourteenth Amendment

3. Black Civil Rights Movement NAACP NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Established 1909 Established 1909 Had many Black and white members, most funding came from rich white sympathizers Had many Black and white members, most funding came from rich white sympathizers W. E. B. DuBois (1868-1963) was the leading Black member in the first half of the 20 th Century W. E. B. DuBois (1868-1963) was the leading Black member in the first half of the 20 th Century Led legal challenges to segregation and attempted to have a Federal anti-lynching law passed (unsuccessfully) Led legal challenges to segregation and attempted to have a Federal anti-lynching law passed (unsuccessfully) SCLC SCLC Southern Christian Leadership Conference Southern Christian Leadership Conference Established 1957 Established 1957 Made up of ministers from predominately Black churches Made up of ministers from predominately Black churches First leader was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First leader was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Best known for organizing “non-violent” resistance to segregation across the South Best known for organizing “non-violent” resistance to segregation across the South

4. Important Events Montgomery Bus Boycott Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955/56 1955/56 Rosa Parks, a Black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passenger and was arrested Rosa Parks, a Black woman refused to give up her seat to a white passenger and was arrested Black citizens of Montgomery, AL organized a 381-day boycott Black citizens of Montgomery, AL organized a 381-day boycott Lunch-counter sit-ins Lunch-counter sit-ins Organized by students to protest segregation in eating facilities Organized by students to protest segregation in eating facilities First held in Greensboro, NC in 1960 First held in Greensboro, NC in 1960 Led to the development of student-led civil rights movement Led to the development of student-led civil rights movement Freedom Rides (1963) Freedom Rides (1963) Protested segregation in interstate bus transportation Protested segregation in interstate bus transportation March on Washington (August 28, 1963) March on Washington (August 28, 1963) Massive civil rights protest in Washington, D. C. Massive civil rights protest in Washington, D. C. MLK delivers his famous speech “I have a dream” MLK delivers his famous speech “I have a dream”I have a dreamI have a dream

8. End to legal segregation Civil Rights Act of 1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Based on 14 th Amendment Based on 14 th Amendment Banned segregation in public facilities Banned segregation in public facilities Voting Rights Act of 1965 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Banned discriminatory practices in denying Blacks (and others) the right to vote Banned discriminatory practices in denying Blacks (and others) the right to vote Literacy tests Literacy tests The 24 th Amendment The 24 th Amendment Banned “poll taxes” that had been used to deny poor Blacks the right to vote Banned “poll taxes” that had been used to deny poor Blacks the right to vote Affirmative Action Affirmative Action 1965, President Johnson issues executive order 1965, President Johnson issues executive order "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin." "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin."

9. Other groups Successes of the Black civil rights movements inspired other groups to action Successes of the Black civil rights movements inspired other groups to action Women Women Hispanics Hispanics American Indians American Indians Gays and lesbians Gays and lesbians

10. Women’s Rights Both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Affirmative Action benefited women as much as any other group Both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Affirmative Action benefited women as much as any other group Equal Rights Amendment Equal Rights Amendment Proposed in 1971 Proposed in 1971 “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Adopted by only 35 states and therefore did not become a part of the Constitution Adopted by only 35 states and therefore did not become a part of the Constitution Sixties Sixties More and more women in higher education and the workplace More and more women in higher education and the workplace Sexual revolution Sexual revolution

11. Gloria Steinem Gloria Steinem “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation” “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation” Ms. Magazine Ms. Magazine National Women’s Political Caucus National Women’s Political Caucus Affirmative action benefited women perhaps more than any other group Affirmative action benefited women perhaps more than any other group Reproductive rights Reproductive rights Roe v. Wade (1972) Roe v. Wade (1972) Decisions made in first trimester of pregnancy are private Decisions made in first trimester of pregnancy are private

12. Hispanics In the sixties most worked as poorly-paid farm labor In the sixties most worked as poorly-paid farm labor United Farm Workers United Farm Workers Established in 1962 Established in 1962 Led by Cesar Chavez Led by Cesar Chavez Agitated for better conditions and pay Agitated for better conditions and pay Organized successful boycotts of produce and supermarkets that bought sold it Organized successful boycotts of produce and supermarkets that bought sold it Table grapes Table grapes Led to improved condition and pay for farm workers Led to improved condition and pay for farm workers

13. American Indians American Indian Movement American Indian Movement Established in 1968 Established in 1968 Brought the plight of Native Americans to public attention through protests Brought the plight of Native Americans to public attention through protests Alcatraz Island Alcatraz Island 1969 1969 19-month occupation 19-month occupation Trail of Broken Treaties Trail of Broken Treaties 1972 1972 March on Washington and occupation of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters March on Washington and occupation of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters Wounded Knee (SD) Wounded Knee (SD) 1973 1973 Standoff between AIM members and Federal and Reservation officials Standoff between AIM members and Federal and Reservation officials Lasted 71 days Lasted 71 days Pine Ridge (SD) Pine Ridge (SD) 1975 1975 Two FBI agents killed Two FBI agents killed Leonard Peltier sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder Leonard Peltier sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder

17. Gays and lesbians Prior to the mid-1960s sexual contact between members of the same sex was illegal in most states Prior to the mid-1960s sexual contact between members of the same sex was illegal in most states Illinois and California led the way in decriminalizing Illinois and California led the way in decriminalizing Police harassment in cities, in particular New York Police harassment in cities, in particular New York Stonewall Stonewall June 27, 1969 June 27, 1969 Police raid lower Manhattan bar the Stonewall Inn Police raid lower Manhattan bar the Stonewall Inn Arrested 4 patrons and 2 bartenders Arrested 4 patrons and 2 bartenders Crowd gathers and begins to attack the police, who retaliate Crowd gathers and begins to attack the police, who retaliate Next day large protest with more than 4000 participants protest against police harassment Next day large protest with more than 4000 participants protest against police harassment Marks beginning of GLB movement in the Western world Marks beginning of GLB movement in the Western world Prior to AIDS crisis of early-mid eighties, limited political power Prior to AIDS crisis of early-mid eighties, limited political power Inaction by Federal government led to creation of political movements Inaction by Federal government led to creation of political movements Act-up Act-up

18. Further legal changes Further legal changes Lawrence et al. v. Texas (2003) Lawrence et al. v. Texas (2003) State laws banning sodomy are illegal State laws banning sodomy are illegal Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health et al. (2003) Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health et al. (2003) Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health et al. Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health et al. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision Declared that state could not ban same-sex couples from obtaining a marriage license under the state constitution’s “equal protection” clause Declared that state could not ban same-sex couples from obtaining a marriage license under the state constitution’s “equal protection” clause Mayor of San Francisco (2004) defies state law and grants marriage licenses to more than 3,000 same-sex couples Mayor of San Francisco (2004) defies state law and grants marriage licenses to more than 3,000 same-sex couplesSan Francisco San Francisco Marriages declared invalid Marriages declared invalid March 2005 – court declares state ban unconstitutional March 2005 – court declares state ban unconstitutional