Martin Luther King Jr was a Civil Rights activist that lived from 1929 to 1968. King was a major influence in our history as he changed the way we think about our rights forever. King is most famous for his " I have a dream" speech that opened the hearts of everyone around him and showed the world what was going on. We honor him everyday but even more on Martin Luther King Jr. day where we teach our children what it means to accept everyone for who they are.
James Chaney was an exceptional young man before his life was cut short in an assassination. Chaney was achieving the impossible among everyone in his class and this made people scared. He was showing the world what it really looked like, not flowers that were beautiful but dark and gray surrounding by the blood of others.
Medgar Evers fought bravely for voting rights. Not only did he fight to help keep the social justice in his country but he fought for his country in World War 2. Evers believed his country could change but just needed a little push. Among his classmates, Evers was one of the students who helped push.
Andrew Goodman was a brave and amazing person. When Goodman heard that a church that wanted to teach about equal rights and voting rights had been burned down he packed his bags and prepared to help those who needed it. Goodman volunteered in many places and spread his word about civil rights helping those who didn't see it, open their eyes to the world.
Malcolm X was a hearty minister and activist. For his youth he grew up in the hardships of foster homes until he joined the Nation of Islam. He served as the face of the nation for many years and became one of the most influential people of nation until his autobiography was released and he expressed his achievements with the nation.
Thurgood Marshall became the first african-american justice of the Supreme Court. Marshall was an exceptional lawyer before his judge days and became famous for his arguments arguments in front of the Supreme Court. He is also known for his battle of Brown vs The Supreme Court (which he won) creating the desegregation of schools.
A Philip Randolph created the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters which was the first predominantly african-american labor union. Randolph also led the March on Washington Movement which convinced the President to enforce the banning of discrimination in defense industries during WW2.
Rosa Parks is most known for not getting up from a bus seat. What peculiar about this seat is that this one action created a boycott around the country that forced bus drivers to lose money. She is known as The First Lady of Civil Rights and The Mother of The Freedom movement. Rosa Parks inspired the people around her and has changed the course of history.
Michael Schwerner, alongside Andrew Goodman and James Chaney worked as an activist alongside the two other great men. Just as they had, he worked hard and showed the world the evils that were going on underneath our noses.
Emmet Till was a young boy that we barely had enough time to enjoy here as a student as he was ripped from us at the young age of 14. Even after death Till was a symbol of how much power was being pushed against discrimination and showed the nation how even the smallest lie can lead to the death of a young protege.
John F. Kennedy was a brave man and soldier who fought in the US navy reserve and turned politician who won the race for presidency and became the 35th President of the United States of America. JFK was known for his many civil rights movements that pushed the US government to its limits.
Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded JFK after the assassination in Texas. LBJ designed the "Great Society" which worked to uphold civil rights and to uproot discrimination among the people. LBJ had his " War on Poverty" where he succeeded in developed the US economy and helping the poor.
Lena Horne was a famous singer and actor who was on broadway and famous films multiple times. During her career many times she turned down offers and refused to sing in front of segregated audiences. This caused wide spread attention and she got to meet the president. One time when she was singing for the army and german POWS she noticed that US army had the men of color in the back and the POWS in the front. Horne walked off the stage and went to the front seat of the colored men so she sang to them with the POWS behind her.
Nina Simone was an amazing singer who wrote and sang songs about rights and that addressed discrimination. Civil Rights messages became part of her singing and playing live performances like " Old Jim Crow" which talked about the Jim Crow laws.
Marva Collins was a school teacher who taught at a school and saw that what she believed was to low level learning. She created her own private school from her retirement funds and taught the children what she believed they needed to learn. She also tutored Kevin Ross the basketball player who had made it to senior year of college without being able to read!