Grade 8 - SS - Civil Rights: Home

History.com - Civil Rights Movement: The civil rights movement was a struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for Black Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. Read about people and places of importance. 

Gale Databases - Civil Rights Movement: Reference article about the civil rights movement. Check out the links on the right side for more articles and information about the topic. You can also lower the reading level by clicking on 910L in the left hand corner of the article. 

Kahn Academy - Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement did not suddenly appear out of nowhere in the twentieth century. Efforts to improve the quality of life for African Americans are as old as the United States. 

National Park Services - The Modern Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1965: Contains information about the civil rights movement, as well as, pivotal moments and people (note there are several pages of Pivotal Moments in the Modern Civil Rights Movement at the bottom of this page to look through for people or places)

Library of Congress - Civil Right Movement: Contains key moments during the civil rights movement in the United States. It also contains primary resources (including interviews, documents, and advertisements) from the time period. 

NAACP - Civil Rights Leaders: The hard-won advancements of civil rights were made possible by the struggle, commitment, and work of people who stood up to discrimination and white supremacy. We look to these heroes from our past for lessons and inspiration as we continue their important work into the future.

PBS - People of the Civil Rights Movement: A list of 18 people who played a role in the civil rights movement; from politicians to everyday men and women. 

PBS - Civil Rights Hot Spots: In the 1950s, the civil rights movement found its voice in places that routinely discriminated against blacks: schools, lunch counters, public buses and terminals.

If you are into music, here is some information about music related to civil rights and social justice:

• Here is a Spotify playlist Mr. Keereman put together with 51 songs about civil rights and social justice issues. Feel free to check them out, if you are into music and music history. It may help you find some inspiration for your own presentation.

• This is a document that briefly explains what the songs are about. I am also letting you know in this document which songs have explicit lyrics, so that you can skip those if you prefer. It is clear that sometimes when people are angry about what is happening in the world, they use strong words to express their anger. I felt it was important to also include some of the songs with explicit lyrics, as the feelings they express are strong and genuine. But you are welcome to skip them of course.

• Finally, this is an article from the US National Public Radio (NPR), listing 50 songs made by Black artists against state violence, over the course of a century. The article contains a link to a Spotify playlist in case you want to check out the songs. Many are really good - just keep in mind that some of the songs have explicit lyrics.