Martin Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, advocated non-violent protest.

The Civil Rights Movement spanned centuries and involved citizens and public officials of all levels. The Civil War brought the end of slavery, and the 14th Amendment in 1868 sought to protect the rights of African Americans and all citizens.

Trace the ways ordinary people and members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches have sought to protect civil rights since and before the 14^th Amendment.

Lessons on this page:  
Modern Civil Rights Leaders, Civil Rights and the Presidency

Modern Civil Rights Leaders (Audio courtesy of the Ralph Bunche Civil Rights Documentation Project at Howard University in Washington, DC.)

Philip Randolph A portion of a 1969 interview with labor and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph.  (1 hour)         Thurgood Marshall A 1969 interview with Thurgood Marshall , American civil rights lawyer and the first African-American justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. (1 hour)       Malcolm X A September 1963 debate on racism in America with author James Baldwin and remarks from African-American activist Malcolm X at an Oxford University debate in December 1964. (1 hour)                   Discussion Questions           1. After listening to these audio interviews, discuss the contributions each of these leaders made to the Civil Rights Movement. How did each of their efforts impact one another? How did their roles differ from one another? 2. How was the 14th Amendment tied into the efforts of Mr. Randolph, Justice Marshall, and Malcolm X?  How did each leader see the Constitution as a means of advancement for African Americans? 3. What role can citizens play in making changes in society? in legislation?

Civil Rights and the Presidency (from C-SPAN's American Presidents: Life Portraits Series and C-SPAN's Lyndon B. Johnson White House Tapes Archive)

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)          1. Former Johnson domestic policy adviser discusses African Americans’ move to the Democratic party as well as President Johnson’s commitment to the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (7 min.)      2. President Johnson biographer discusses LBJ’s compassion for the poor and how this translated into his life’s work.       3. A phone call on November 5, 1964 between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Johnson .  The President thanks MLK for his endorsement in the presidential election. They discuss the President's poverty program, and LBJ asks MLK for support. (4 min.)      4. A phone call on January 15, 1965 between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Johnson.  LBJ lays out his legislative agenda for the Great Society program. The two discuss potential African-American nominees to the President’s cabinet, the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment. LBJ asks MLK for help in pushing health, education, and poverty legislation through Congress. (22 min.)                Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)        1. Discussion of the election of 1948, the Democratic Convention, civil rights, and President Truman's victory without a united South. (3 min.)      2. Discussion of President Truman’s executive order to integrate the military and the reaction of black soldiers. Also mention of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's opinion regarding integration of military. (4 min.)             Discussion Questions               1. What contributions did Presidents Eisenhower, Truman, and Johnson make to the advancement of civil rights? What milestones did they set? 2. To what extent did these initiatives address the provisions of the 14th Amendment? 3. What role do presidents play in making changes in society? in legislation?