Little Rock Nine Meredith V Jefferson County BOE

Little Rock Nine

• Meredith V. Jefferson County BOE (2007) • Court ruled that assigning kids to schools based on race is Unconstitutional • “Stop discriminating on the basis of race by stopping discrimination on the basis of race” • What does this do to the Brown decision?

I. Civil Rights Movement • Civil rights workers throughout the South peacefully broke laws that supported racial segregation • Rosa Parks – Became famous for refusing to give up her seat to a white man

“Because of You John” - Barack Obama

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Leader of the Civil Rights movement • Practice nonviolent resistance to protest governmental policies • Results in the March on Washington and King’s famous “I have a dream” speech • Assassinated April 4, 1968 March on Washington

“ I have been to the mountain top” April 3, 1968

Malcom X • Born in Omaha in 1925 • was a follower of Islam and an influential figure in the Civil Rights Movement • Unlike Dr. King, he emphasized the separation of Whites and Blacks • Disagreed with Dr. King and his follower’s emphasis on integration and non-violent resistance • He believed that African Americans needed to use “any means necessary” to get the respect and treatment they deserved

• On February 21, 1965, Malcom X is assassinated while preparing to address a crowd in Manhattan • A disturbance in the crowd distracted his bodyguards • While this was going on, several gunmen ran forward and opened fire • His body had 21 gunshot wounds • The gunmen were members of the Nation of Islam, an Islamic group that Malcom X had been involved with early in his life.

“Any Means Possible”

How Far Have We Come?

J. Civil Rights Act 1964 • President Kennedy had fought hard to pass a Civil Rights Bill prior to his assassination. • Unfortunately, members of congress were hesitant to touch such a sensitive piece of legislation and there was heated protest from the South • His death made it possible for LBJ to bully and guilt legislators into passing the bill

Prevented giving federal funds to aid any state where race or sex discrimination was practiced 1) Not allowed to refuse service 2) prohibits discrimination against any person because of race and gender 3) Prohibits employers from discriminating on the grounds of race and gender