Civil Rights: Home

In May 1963 news photographer Charles Moore was on hand to document the Children's Crusade, a civil rights protest. But the photographs he took that day did more than document an event; they helped change history. His photograph of a trio of African-American teenagers being slammed against a building by a blast of water from a fire hose was especially powerful. The image of this brutal treatment turned Americans into witnesses at a time when hate and prejudice were on trial. It helped rally the civil rights movement and energized the public, making civil rights a national problem needing a national solution. And it paved the way for Congress to finally pass laws to give citizens equal rights regardless of the color of their skin.

It's March 2, 1955, and an ordinary 15-year-old girl from Montgomery, Alabama is about to do something extraordinary. When a white bus driver orders Claudette Colvin to give up her seat for a white passenger, she refuses to move. After Claudette is arrested, her brave actions help inspire Civil Rights leaders organize bus boycotts and perform similar acts to defy segregation laws. Eventually, Claudette's court case results in overturning Alabama's unconstitutional laws and provides greater freedom for black Americans everywhere.

John Lewis knew that treating someone differently because of the color of their skin was unfair and wrong. In his early 20s, he decided to do something about it.  During the struggle for equal treatment, Lewis faced many beatings and was arrested around 40 times. But he would become one of the most influential leaders in the civil rights movement. He continues that work today.

Malcolm X is known as a leader of the civil rights movement. He faced racism, spent time in prison, became a minister, joined the Nation of Islam, left, took a pilgrimage to Mecca, traveled the world, and became a public figure before his assassination. Explore how his words shaped the civil rights movement and the people who called him a leader.

How much do you know about Thurgood Marshall? Find out the facts you need to know about this civil rights lawyer and justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. You'll learn about the early life, challenges, and major accomplishments of this important American.

The Civil Rights Movement brought about major changes in the United States, including the legal end of segregation between African-Americans and white Americans. Explore the points of view of the activists who fought for change and the people who opposed them through powerful primary sources and historical photos.