The United States: Civil Rights and Segregation I

Warm-up: Short writing. Describe what you see in the picture. Where do you think it is from? When do you think the picture was taken? 

Water fountain - segregation - separate 

What do you know about the history of discrimination and segregation in the United States? In your groups, discuss with your classmates and decide if the following statements are true or false. 

• Until 1967, it was illegal for white people and African Americans to marry each other in the US state of Virginia. 
• In Alabama, before 1956, an African American had to stand up if a white person wanted their bus seat. If they did not stand up, they could be arrested by the police. 
• Slavery was still legal in some of the states in the US, including Kentucky and Louisiana, until the 1950s. 
• In many Southern states, until 1964, African Americans and white people had to eat at different tables in restaurants, use different public bathrooms, and travel in different train carriages.
• It was illegal for African Americans to vote in Texas in the 1970s 
• Until 1954, it was legal for states to force African-American children to go to different schools than white children.

Work with words on Quizlet 

Watch the short documentary and answer these questions:  

What was decided in the Supreme Court? 

How did the white families feel about this decision?

What happened to Rita Moseley?

What problems did Moton High School have? 

What did the Brown vs The Board of Education decision mean? 

Read about...  

The US civil rights movement: 1950s

1951

• In Virginia, students at an African-American high school protest against segregation and poor conditions at their school. Lawyers agree to help them.
• Linda Brown can't go to her local school because she is African American. Her father gives his name to the lawsuit against the education system ('Brown vs Board of Education of the City of Topeka, Kansas').

1954

• The court agrees that African-American children should be able to go to school with white children. It is inherently unfair to keep them in different schools.

1955

• Two white men carry out the vicious killing of African-American 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi. They beat and shoot him for whistling at a white woman. The men are not punished.
• African-American woman Rosa Parks won’t give her bus seat to a white man. She is arrested. In a plan organized by Martin Luther King, African Americans say they will not use the bus company. The company finally agrees to the integration of white and African-American passengers.

1957

• In Little Rock, Arkansas, nine African-American children try to go to their local high school. Before then, only white children could go there. There are protests. The Arkansas government sends state troops to stop the children going in. The President of the United States then sends federal soldiers for the children's protection. Finally, the children get into the school, but they are bullied and treated badly.

What did you already know about Civil Rights and Segregation in the United States? What did you learn?