-
Declaration of Independence
-
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was a courageous African American abolitionist born into slavery around 1820. She escaped her plantation in the South and became a leading figure in the Underground Railroad, guiding hundreds of enslaved people to freedom. Tubman's brave life of selflessness and resilience has made her a major symbol of the fight for freedom and equality in the civil rights movement. -
William Still
William Still was a prominent African American abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad in the 19th century. Essentially, he enslaved individuals escape to freedom, documenting their stories, and providing essential support along the way. His loads of records, published in "The Underground Railroad Records," provide valuable insights into the experiences of those who sought freedom and the workings of the Underground Railroad, making him a vital abolitionist figure. -
What, To The Slave, Is The Fourth of July?
Frederick Douglass -
Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln
The Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal moment in American history during the Civil War. This higher order declared that all enslaved people in Confederate territory were to be freed, which transformed the Civil War into a struggle to also abolish slavery. While it didn't immediately free all slaves, as it only applied to Confederate-controlled areas, it served as a huge step toward the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States. -
Combahee Ferry Raid
The Combahee Ferry Raid was a Civil War military operation led by Harriet Tubman in June 1863. Tubman guided 150+ Union forces up the Combahee River in South Carolina, freeing more than 700 enslaved individuals and creating obstacles in Confederate operations. This bold raid showcased Tubman's bravery and strategic skills as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and her contributions to the Union war effort. -
Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Abraham Lincoln -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks was a courageous African American civil rights activist who became a celebrity of the Civil Rights Movement. Her refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, one of the most famous events of the civil rights movement. Parks' commitment to equality and justice with the bus experience alone made her a strong figure that represented the movement. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for advocating nonviolent resistance to racial segregation and discrimination through his powerful speeches and activism. His most famous speech, "I Have a Dream," delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, is still one of the most famous and significant in the fight for racial equity. -
Brown Vs. The Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) was a historic Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unjust. This pivotal decision marked the beginning of the end for legal racial segregation in American education and played a strong role in the beginning of desegregating the United States. -
Letter to my Nephew
James Baldwin -
March On Washington
The March on Washington created significant process in the civil rights movement. Over 250,000 people, including Martin Luther King Jr., marched in the nation's capital to demand civil rights and an end racial segregation. The highlight of the event was King's "I Have a Dream" speech, in which he passionately explained the vision of a racially togetherness of America. The march played a crucial role in raising awareness and pressuring the government to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi.
Founders of the Black Lives Matter Movement. While not finding many people's support, after multiple incidents of black discrimination and police brutality without arrests to those officers, people came together to help put an end to it. They came together as an activist, writer, and Human Rights advocate to solve a common goal: Equity for black people -
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates -
Black Lives Matter
Peaking in 2019, The Black Lives Matter movement, founded in 2013 is a powerful civil rights movement advocating for the rights and equality of Black individuals. It blew up after the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. BLM seeks to end systemic racism, police brutality, and racial inequality through peaceful protests, and advocacy. It has sparked a global conversation on race and justice, and has led to major political advancements.