The American Civil Rights Movement was a transformative period in US history that fought against racial segregation and discrimination.
The movement gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s with two prominent leaders emerging - Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. King, born to Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King, became a Baptist minister and earned his doctorate before leading the civil rights struggle. He had four children with his wife Coretta Scott King: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice. King's peaceful protests and powerful speeches, including the famous "I Have a Dream" address, helped advance the cause of racial equality. His assassination in 1968 made him a martyr for civil rights.
Rosa Parks sparked a crucial moment in the movement when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955. This act of defiance led to her arrest and sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days and successfully ended bus segregation. Parks, who worked as a seamstress, was married to Raymond Parks but had no children. Her brave stand against racial segregation inspired the African American community to unite in peaceful protest. The boycott's success demonstrated the power of nonviolent resistance and established Martin Luther King Jr. as a national civil rights leader. Parks continued her civil rights work until her death in 2005 from natural causes. The Civil Rights Movement achieved significant victories through peaceful demonstrations, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which legally ended segregation and protected voting rights for African Americans. These landmark achievements were made possible through the courage and determination of ordinary citizens and leaders who risked their lives for equality and justice.