May 1, 2024
Updated July 18, 2025
15 minute read
The Civil Rights Movement was a period of social activism and protest that aimed to end racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. It began in the mid-20th century and lasted for several decades. The movement was led by African Americans, but it also included white allies. The Civil Rights Movement used nonviolent resistance to achieve its goals. This included boycotts, sit-ins, and marches. The movement also used legal challenges to overturn discriminatory laws.
The Importance of the Civil Rights Movement
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Find a path to becoming a Civil Rights Movement. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/topic/83f4lx/civil
Reading list
We've selected eight books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Civil Rights Movement.
History of housing discrimination in the United States. The book shows how government policies have created and maintained racial segregation in American cities.
Is an analysis of the criminal justice system in the United States. The book argues that the system is biased against African Americans and that mass incarceration new form of Jim Crow.
Collection of essays by James Baldwin, one of the most important writers of the Civil Rights Movement. The essays explore the problems of race and racism in America.
Collection of essays by W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the most important intellectuals of the Civil Rights Movement. The essays explore the problems of race and racism in America.
Letter from Ta-Nehisi Coates to his son about the problems of race and racism in America. The book powerful and personal account of the challenges faced by African Americans in the United States.
History of Reconstruction, the period following the Civil War when the United States attempted to rebuild the South and grant civil rights to African Americans. The book covers the successes and failures of Reconstruction and its lasting legacy.
Resource guide to the Civil Rights Movement. The book provides a comprehensive list of books, articles, and other resources on the movement.
History of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), the first African American military unit to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War. The book covers the formation of the USCT, its role in the war, and its legacy.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/83f4lx/civil