Childrens Museum SS

Sophia x2 Museum

A Sophia creation

Selma Marches, 1965

"I Have a Dream" Speech

Assassination of MLK, 1968

The Selma Marches

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The Selma Marches, which were also known as "Bloody Sunday" were 3 marches that took place in Selma, Alabama in 1965. The marches were for a Voting Rights Movement.

First March - When? March 7, 1965Who? It was organized by John Lewis, a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and one of the original Freedom Riders. Why? They did the demonstration because of a voting registration campaign which had a record of consistent resistance to black voting. Sadly, the marchers were met with violence from heavily armed state troopers, who used tear-gas clubs and horses to chase away participants.

Second March - When? March 9, 1965This time, it again ended in violence and a barricade of state troopers.

Third March - When? March 21, 1965. This time it was heavily protected by over 2000 U.S. Army soldiers, 1900 members of the Alabama National Guard, and closely watched by FBI agents. In result of these marches was the Voting Rights Act. By the end of 1965, over 250,000 new black votes had been registered.

Artifacts of The Selma Marches

2 out of the 3 marches on the Edmund Pettus Bridge were unsuccessful, with obstacles such as tear gas, clubs and bats. Teaching kids the importance of this event, and how actions between races have changed today can be crucial to future lives.

Artifacts of the Selma Marches

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Artifact 1

Artifact 2

Artifact 3

During the second march, marches were stopped by state troopers, abruptly ending the march. The marchers kept going, no matter who or what got in their way.

On the third and final march, marchers had joined together to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge and protest. The protesters had reached their destination on March 25, 1965 at the Alabama state capitol. The march showed people that even without a strong leader, you can still have big ideas and put them to use.

This officer has a gas mask to protect himself from the harmful tear gas.

Officers in this photo are interfering with the march.

Marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge protesting.

"I Have a Dream" Speech

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The "I Have a Dream" speech was a speech organized by a minister and civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr.King was had helped with many protests in the past, such as, the sit-in protests, children's marches, but nothing as big as the "I Have a Dream Speech" which impacted Americans all over the country.

When? August 28, 1963

Who?Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the speech.

Why?Civil rights leaders planned a “march for freedom” in Washington, D.C. The marchers would demand passage of the civil rights bill, integration of schools, an end to job discrimination, and a program of job training.

Where?Washington, D.C.

Artifacts of the "I Have a Dream" Speech

MLKs’ speech spoke for every person there, all they wanted was peace and equality. Later on, the Selma Marches would play a big role in their dreams.

Artifacts of the "I Have a Dream" Speech

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Artifact 1

Artifact 2

Artifact 3

The importance of MLKs’ speech brought blacks closer than before. The “I Have a Dream” speech led peaceful protests and helped blacks know what they wanted.

King's speech was effective immediately, and was able to get attention from people all over the country. His words were able to put new ideas into perspective, and overall his speech was a success.

The attention of King's speech spreads around the country and the N.A.A.C.P. is growing in followers.

Blacks protesting all their hopes and dreams

The crowd during MLKs’ “I Have a Dream” Speech.

The Assassination of MLK

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Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister, activist, and political philosopher who was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.

When? April 4, 1968

How old was he?39 years old.

What happened afterwards?Many African Americans had lost faith in his vision of a society in which the color of a person's skin didn't matter. Angry young African Americans looked instead to new leaders who talked about black pride and black power.

Where?A balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Artifacts of the Assassination of MLK

Artifacts of the Assasination of MLK

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Artifact 1

Artifact 2

Artifact 3

After the assassination of MLK, riots began, however this time they weren’t all peaceful. Some believed that violence was the right choice, others disagreed. King's death forced his followers to stick up for their rights.

The Lorraine Motel was the last place MLK was photographed before his death. Not long after the death of MLK went public, terror would arise among the supporters of MLK.

After the death of MLK, his supporters were able to form a civil rights movement called “Black Power.” This movement was able to help people of color freely express their culture and emotions. A man named Jesse Jackson was able to work with MLK before his death and become a strong leading spokesman for all of the black community.

The last photo taken before MLKs’ death as well as the newspaper highlighting King’s death

Jesse Jackson leading a march in Washington, D.C., in 1975. In this photo, Jesse wore his hair in an Afro to symbolize the black culture and history

Burning buildings of angry rioters.