US History: Changemakers (2024): African American Civil Rights
civil rights marchers 1965
Participants, some carrying American flags, marching in the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. Photo by Peter Pettus, Library of Congress.
“If people understood that it was ordinary people who did everything that needed to be done in the movement, instead of thinking, I wish we had a Martin Luther King now, they would ask, ‘What can I do?’ Idolizing just one person undermines the struggle.” Diane Nash
Diane Nash
Diane Nash, Civil Rights Activist
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- Meet Diane Nash, the Civil Rights Icon Awarded the U.S.’ Highest Civilian Honor
Includes several short videos - Profile in Jet Magazine, 1961
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Jackie & Rachel Robinson
Rachel and Jackie Robinson
- Jackie Robinson: Militant Black Republican (The Root)Archived copy. May be slow to load
- Honoring Rachel Robinson, Baseball Pioneer and Civil Rights Activist (Huffington Post)Transcript of speech inducting Robinson into the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals.
John Lewis
John Lewis, Civil Rights Activist, Politician
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- John Lewis Portal (Biography in Context)
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Biographies, articles & more.
This link will prompt you for your GBS ID number (number only) and password to access from home. - John Lewis Extended Interview - Getting Into Trouble to Fight Injustice: The Daily Show (2016) (7:34)Representative John Lewis weighs in on the Black Lives Matter movement and discusses his experience at Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in "March: Book Three."
Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers, Civil Rights Activist
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- Medgar Evers Portal (Biography in Context)
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Biographies, articles & more.
This link will prompt you for your GBS ID number (number only) and password to access from home. - Justice for Medgar Evers Comes 30 Years After His Murder (2:50)In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers arrived home when he was shot and killed. It would be over 30 years before his killer was brought to justice.
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Nina Simone
Nina Simone, Civil Rights Activist, Composer, Musician
Tommie Smith & John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
Tommie Smith & John Carlos, Civil Rights Activists, 1968 Olympic Medalists
- "A Courageous Stand" Sports Illustrated
This page is from the Internet Archive & may take a bit longer than expected to load. - The Man Who Raised a Fist, 50 Years Later
Former Olympic sprinter Tommie Smith reflects on his legacy and the resurgence of activism in sports.
Woolworth Sit-in: David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., Joseph McNeill
The Greensboro Woolworth Sit In: David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., Joseph McNeill
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson, Civil Rights Pioneer
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- Katherine Johnson Portal (Gale Biography)
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Biography & More. the link will prompt you for your GBS login (ID number only) and password from home. - Katherine Johnson Interview, Sept. 2017 (2:33)
An interview with Katherine Johnson discussing her career and her reaction to the dedication of the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., in her honor.
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