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"Why Sit Here and Die"
Speech by Maria W. Stewart -
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
Speech by Frederick Douglass -
Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address
Delivered by Abraham Lincoln -
W.E.B Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois was a sociologist, socialist, historian, and of course, civil rights activist. He was the first person to get a PhD from Harvard. But most importantly, he was one of the main founders of the NAACP, a foundation that advocates for civil rights and social justice. The NAACP "waged legislative battles, organized mass protests, and produced artistic material" all in hopes to achieve it's main focus - to stop lynching once and for all. -
"Sweat"
Short story by Zora Neale Hurston -
The Lynching of Emmett Till
Emmett Till, a 14 year old black boy, was shopping at a store in Mississippi with his cousins. When he exited the store, he was kidnapped by two men, who proceeded to brutally beat him to death, and dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River. The reason for this was because a woman had accused Till of making sexual advances on her. News of the tragic murder spread around the U.S, prompting many African Americans to join the Civil Rights Movement, each for differing reasons (anger, fear, etc.). -
Nashville Sit-Ins
A group of students organized a non-violent protest. It consisted of African American students sitting down in a segregated area. This caused an outrage, with some violent responses from the white crowds. This eventually led to the desegregation of multiple lunch counters for black people. -
The Freedom Riders' Travels
The Freedom Riders were a group of 7 black people and 6 white people. Together, they decided to ride a bus in different parts of the bus. They would drive the bus around cities for everyone to see. This outraged many people. Sometimes, when the bus would stop, the group would encounter a large mob of angry white people. Once, someone in the crowd threw a fire bomb at the stationary bus, and when the group escaped, they were beaten. News of this spread around, attracting people to the Movement. -
A Letter to My Nephew
Letter by James Baldwin -
Diane Nash
Diane Nash is a civil rights activist who participated in the Freedom Rides and sit-ins. Her most influential moment was when she began to organize campaigns which aimed to raise national awareness about segregation in the South. Currently, she advocates for fair housing in Chicago. -
The Birmingham Campaign
The Birmingham campaign was a mass non-violent protest. Its main goal was to desegregate Birmingham, which made use of both sit-ins and boycotts. The city eventually responded in a violent way. This response actually forced the city to implement legislative changes. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
During his time, MLK was seen as a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He influenced many people through his non-violent protests, despite the countless attacks he endured. Through his leadership skills, he attracted many people, both black and white, to advocate for the Civil Rights Movement. His most influential action would be his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech, delivered at the March in Washington. -
Malcom X
Malcom X was an American Muslim leader. He was a prominent figure within the Nation of Islam. He spread awareness of Black nationalism. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by 3 members of the Nation of Islam due to his public critiques of the Nation of Islam. After his death, his autobiography was published, which made him an idol among many young African Americans. -
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday was a tragedy which occurred in Alabama. People were peacefully protesting in Alabama, and eventually, Alabama state troopers were sent to put an end to it. However, the state troopers began opening fire on the unarmed protesters. The massacre was broadcasted, however. President at the time, Lyndon B. Johnson, learned of the tragedy, and decided to speak with George Wallace, governor of Alabama at the time. -
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was the former president of South Africa, and also a civil rights activist. Before he became president, he organized multiple acts of non-violent disobedience against apartheid, which was the name for the segregation laws in South Africa. He was arrested and was held in prison for 27 years. During his time in prison, people became more frustrated with the all-white government at the time, which led to more and more protests and the eventual dissolution of apartheid laws in 1991. -
"How three unlikely groups worked together to achieve racial solidarity"
Podcast by Code Switch -
"The Zoot Suit Riots"
Article by the National WWII Museum