To live freely and participate in society is a right many take for granted. Achieving and maintaining those civil rights have been a struggle for different groups throughout U.S. history. Civil rights mean more than the protests of the 1950s and 1960s and reach beyond racial and ethnic groups. Today, the struggle has gone from an issue of racial equality to equality for all and new voices are engaging in the discussion, helping to define who we are as a people and a nation.
Civil Rights in America
Discover the Network
Learn more about one of our newest programs, the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN)
The Birth of the Civil Rights Movement
From 1941-1954, post-war America begins to grapple with the social and legislative changes that reshape the national conversation.
The Modern Civil Rights Movement
March into history with the transformation figures and events of 1954-1964.
Last updated: October 22, 2019