The landmark case Brown v. Board of Education declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. However, for most black and white families, the decision was met with resistance and a court mandate didn’t mean things were going to change. Even as the NAACP intervened and busing orders were implemented, integrating schools seemed more like a wish than a sure thing.
Read MoreIn the early 1500s, a West African man named Juan Garrido joined the ranks of Spanish explorers who ventured out in hopes of discovering new parts of the world. With their sights set on locating the fountain of youth, Garrido and other travelers landed in what we now call Florida in 1513. He is now etched in the nation’s history as the first black man to step foot on American soil
Read MoreAfter graduating from Shaw University, Ella Baker moved to New York City and began her career as a grassroots organizer. Joining the NAACP in 1940, the Virginia native assisted in developing some of the brightest minds in the Civil Rights Movement.
Read MoreThe black church continues to be a source of support for members of the African-American community. When compared to American churches as a whole, black churches tend to focus more on social issues such as poverty, gang violence, drug use, prison ministries and racism. A study in 1996 found that black Christians were more likely to have heard about health care reform from their pastors than were white Christians.
Read MoreOn a quest to re-frame and ignite the Civil Rights movement, Stokely Carmichael rallied people and brought the phrase “Black Power” to life. Seeking more measurable progress, Carmichael and his followers were not afraid or ashamed to require progress. Black Power spread across the US like wildfire, and people felt charged and empowered to cultivate a new vision.
Read MoreWashington’s bright mind and forward thinking led him to become the principal and leader at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881. He would go on to gain national notoriety as a lecturer and influencer. While the content of his speeches promoted black growth at its heart, it would be a speech in 1895, the “Atlanta Compromise,” that rattled many black followers.
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