PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

people who made a difference

martin luther king and rosa parks

RACIAL SEGREGATION

ON BUSES

DRINKING FOUNTAINS

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL

Did you know that African Americans in the 1950s couldn’t go to the same schools as white Americans? On buses and trains, they had to sit in a different section from white passengers. African Americans had to go to different hospitals and shops and they couldn’t eat in the same restaurants with white Americans. The law at the time said African Americans were ‘separate but equal’ – so they had to live separate lives from white Americans.

1955, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

In 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks (1913-2005), an African American woman, was on a bus on her way home from work. When she refused to give her seat to a white man, the bus driver called the police. The police arrested her and the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. 40,000 African Americans boycotted public buses for over a year. The protest only ended when racial segregation on buses stopped in 1956. This was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in the US.

Rosa Parks

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

One of the leaders of the Montgomery Bus Boycott was the African American church minister, Martin Luther King. He became the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement wanted African Americans to have the same right to freedom and equality as white Americans. Martin Luther King believed in non-violent protest and he organised many campaigns against racial discrimination. The police frequently arrested him and sent him to prison, but he continued to protest.

1963, I HAVE A DREAM

In 1963, there was an important civil rights protest in Washington. Martin Luther King spoke to the people about his dream for the future: freedom and equality for all Americans. He began with the words: ‘I have a dream’. His speech is famous all over the world.

I have a dream

THE RIGHT TO VOTE

In 1964, Martin Luther King won the Nobel Prize for Peace and in 1965, the American government finally made it possible for all African Americans to vote. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in April 1968, but in July 1968, the American Government passed the Civil Rights Act and finally African Americans had the same rights as white Americans.

ROSA PARKS

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Watch the video if you want to find out more about Rosa Parks and her life

TIMELINE

1963

1964

1968

1955

1965

1956

The Bus Boycott ended and racial segregation on buses ended. This was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in the US.

Right to vote for African- Americans

Rosa Parks was arrested and the Bus Boycott began

Civil rights protest in Washington DC and “I have a dream” speech by Martin Luther King

MLK won the Nobel Prize for Peace

MLK was assassinated The American Government passed the Civil Rights Act.

map

Washington DC

Montgomery, Alabama

Testo tratto da "Game On 3 Video Edition 3" Pamela Linwood, Daniela Guglielmino, Clare Kennedy DEA Scuola, Petrini