1.
Protests and Boycotts
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956): Black people stopped
riding buses in Montgomery, Alabama, to protest against
segregation on buses. This movement was led by Rosa Parks
and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sit-ins: Black students sat in "whites-only" areas at lunch
counters, peacefully refusing to leave until they were served.
These sit-ins happened in many cities.
2. Building Strong Communities
Black Churches: Churches became the center of resistance.
Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. used churches to organize
meetings and protests.
Schools and Colleges: Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) educated young leaders who joined the
fight for civil rights.
3. Legal Challenges
Court Cases: Black leaders and lawyers challenged segregation
laws in court. For example:
o Brown v. Board of Education (1954): This case ended
segregation in schools.
o NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of
Coloured People): This group fought for equality in the
courts and won many important cases.
4. Freedom Rides
In 1961, Black and white activists rode buses together through the South to protest
segregation on public transportation. These were called Freedom Rides.
5. Creating Art and Music
Black writers, musicians, and artists used their work to inspire others and show the
world how unfair Jim Crow laws were. Songs like those by Billie Holiday ("Strange
Fruit") told powerful stories of injustice.
6. Marches and Speeches
March on Washington (1963): Thousands of Black and white people marched
together for jobs and freedom. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his
famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
7. Everyday Acts of Courage
Many Black people resisted in small but powerful ways:
o Refusing to give up their seats (like Rosa Parks).
o Teaching others to read so they could pass unfair voting tests.
o Supporting each other in their communities.
8. The Civil Rights Movement
All of these actions came together to form the Civil Rights Movement, which helped end
many Jim Crow laws and brought greater equality.
Key Changes That Ended Jim Crow
1. New Federal Laws
o Civil Rights Act of 1964:
This law made segregation illegal in public places like restaurants,
buses, schools, and theatres.
It also banned discrimination in hiring and at workplaces.
o Voting Rights Act of 1965:
It stopped unfair practices, like literacy tests and poll taxes, that were
used to prevent Black Americans from voting.
It gave the federal government the power to protect everyone’s right to
vote.
o Fair Housing Act of 1968:
This law made it illegal to deny people homes or apartments because
of their race.
2. Supreme Court Rulings
o The courts declared many Jim Crow laws unconstitutional:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Ended segregation in public
schools, saying "separate but equal" was unfair.
Other cases made sure segregation in other places, like transportation
and parks, also ended.
3. Protests and Activism
o People like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and organizations like
the NAACP and SNCC fought hard to end segregation.
o Peaceful protests, like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, sit-ins, and marches,
forced the government to act.
4. Government Action
o Presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson pushed for civil rights laws.
o The federal government sent troops to enforce desegregation in schools and
public spaces.
What It Meant
By the late 1960s, most Jim Crow laws were gone. Black Americans could legally go to the
same schools, vote freely, live where they wanted, and work without discrimination.
Although legal segregation ended, the fight for true equality continues today, as racial
discrimination and inequality still exist in some forms.
