Major Concepts:
In the 1950s, African-Americans launched a diverse reform movement under the banner of Civil Rights, pursuing strategies of litigation, political action, and nonviolent resistance to establish their right to equal protection of the laws. This movement ultimately made great strides in achieving civil rights, and inspired other movements such as that for women's rights and equality, but many obstacles have blocked the achievement of full social and economic equality for African-Americans, women, and ethnic minorities such as Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.
Objectives: The student will be able to:
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Understand and evaluate the impact and importance of the 1954
Brown
decision in civil-rights law.
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Explain how
Brown
stimulated new activism and approaches to the struggle for equality within the civil-rights community.
Suggested lesson/activities:
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Students will complete a role-playing exercise as NAACP attorneys, giving them insight into the leverage provided by
Brown
in efforts to dismantle "Jim Crow" segregation.
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Drawing on the knowledge gained in Activity 1 and other research, students will set up a simulated SCLC/NAACP strategy session sometime in the mid-1960s. The topic of this strategy meeting is the future course of the civil rights movement -- in particular, consideration of workable past and future tactics.
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Interview an attorney, your state legislator, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, or some other person knowledgeable about the federal, state, and local laws guaranteeing civil rights enacted between 1954 and 1975. Prepare a poster presentation depicting these measures.
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Divide the class into five or six equal groups and prepare a roundtable discussion from each group on the following topic:
What are the three most important priorities of the civil rights movement today and what is the best way to achieve them?
A Crossroads Resource:
ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISE
A Crossroads Resource:
ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISE-Civil Rights Strategy Session