Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Others Demand Equality
Many other groups learned how to push for their civil rights from African Americans' civil rights movement. Read about the Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and gays as they worked to achieve equal treatment under the law.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Odyssey: Sit Ins, Freedom Rides, and Demonstrations
The Civil Rights Era explores African American history in the 1960s, the fight against racial discrimination and segregation, and the search for justice through "freedom rides," boycotts, sit-ins, legislation, and marches.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Dr. King's Leadership and Character [Pdf]
This lesson plans looks at the leadership and character of Dr. King, and encourages students to draw connections to their lives. More lesson plans from the national parks service on civil rights and Dr. King can be found here:...
Other
People's World: The Chicago Freedom Movement: Summer of 1966
An informative and inspiring article about the African American struggle for civil rights in Chicago, 1966. The authors offer a first-hand account of protests against unfair housing and discrimination and the subsequent changes made.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: African Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of African Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Alabama Humanities Foundation
Encyclopedia of Alabama: Selma to Montgomery March
One of the most famous events in Civil Rights history, this report covers the Selma to Montgomery March for voting rights.
Alabama Humanities Foundation
Encyclopedia of Alabama: Ralph David Abernathy
This brief biography of Ralph Abernathy highlights his contributions to the Civil Rights Movements.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Names, Names, Names [Pdf]
A lesson plan for K-1 about important people in the Civil Rights movement. Requires Adobe Reader.
Read Works
Read Works: Famous African Americans Maya Angelou
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage contains biographical information about the famous author and civil rights leader and activist named Maya Angelou. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
This lesson introduces students to Rosa Parks and the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. After considering the impact of Ms. Parks' heroism, students will explore its relevance to the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement....
iCivics
I Civics: Breaking Barriers: Constance Baker Motley
Meet a woman who broke all the barriers to become a champion for civil rights: Constance Baker Motley lawyer, state senator, and federal judge. [1:52]
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Attacking Stereotypes, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
Two images that express the growing militancy of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. This article explains how Joe Overstreet (1934-) and Betye Saar (1929-) went head to head with the formidable Aunt Jemima and with wit and irony...
PBS
This Far by Faith: Civil Rights to Black Power: A Faith Forged in Albany
This segment from This Far by Faith, a documentary film about spiritual journeys of African Americans, explores civil rights and the Albany Movement.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Civil Rights for Kids: Apartheid
Kids learn about the history of apartheid in South Africa including the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela, the Soweto Uprising, and bringing apartheid law to an end on this site.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Sncc and Core
Read about the two civil rights groups that organized nonviolent protests during the 1950s and 1960s.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Historian's Perspective: Winning the Vote: History of Voting Rights
[Free Registration/Login Required] Historian-authored three-part overview looks at the history of voting rights in America, touching on all the critical moments in American history when voting rights were first denied then granted to...
Other
Letter From Birminghham Jail [Pdf]
This letter shares Martin Luther King's reflections about his involvement in peaceful demonstrations. The letter provides historical information about the plight of African Americans throughout history and why he and others are so...
NBC
Nbc Learn: Finishing the Dream: 1962 1963: Standoffs
A collection of archival video clips highlighting the efforts of African Americans to fight racial segregation in education. Looks at the struggle of James H. Meredith to attend the University of Mississippi in 1962, and the resulting...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Emmett Till" by Jessica Mc Birney
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story or article is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Race and Voting in the Segregated South
Article and activity in which students read and analyze the historic challenges faced by African Americans as they sought to gain an unimpeded right to vote in the segregated South followed by activity asking students to evaluate current...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Reasoning, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
Brochures and a speech from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference describing the organization's philosophy, its strategy, and its position on voting rights, civil disobedience, and segregation.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Old Timers, Newcomers
An editorial cartoon and a newspaper article illustrating the tensions between members of established African American communities in the North and Southern migrants. Links to both resources are provided within this site.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Poetry, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
This study of black protest poems from the early part of the twentieth century through the late sixties can provide insight into the issues African Americans faced during that time and the ways they responded to them. Works from seven...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Concerned White Citizens of Alabama Scrapbook
These materials document the philosophy and activities of the Concerned White Citizens of Alabama, who fought for racial equality and voting rights for African Americans; from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.