Glossary
Brown v. Board of Education
A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that ruled state-sponsored segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson.
Example:
The decision in Brown v. Board of Education was a monumental step, signaling the legal end of segregation in public education and inspiring further civil rights activism, even though full integration took many years to achieve after the ruling against Brown v. Board of Education.
Martin Luther King Jr.
A prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, known for his advocacy of nonviolent civil disobedience and his powerful speeches that articulated the moral imperative for racial equality.
Example:
As a charismatic and influential figure, Martin Luther King Jr. became the face of the Civil Rights Movement, leading major campaigns like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, and earning the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
Nonviolent Civil Disobedience
A philosophy and tactic of protesting injustice through peaceful means, such as boycotts, sit-ins, and marches, without resorting to violence, even in the face of violent opposition.
Example:
Inspired by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. championed nonviolent civil disobedience as the primary strategy for the Civil Rights Movement, believing that moral persuasion and peaceful resistance would ultimately expose the injustice of segregation and compel societal change.