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Contributor: Ashley Nail Murphy. Lesson ID: 14204
Take a road trip through Alabama's Civil Rights era! Explore historical events, brave actions, and key places that shaped the fight for equality in America. Buckle up for a journey through history!
Imagine driving through Alabama on a road trip.
You start in Birmingham for breakfast, stop in Tuscaloosa for gas, drive through Selma for lunch, and end the day in Montgomery for dinner.
Some people may just pass through those cities looking for the best restaurants or the cheapest gas stations, but you are different!
You suspect the cities in Alabama have an important history, and you’re right!
Alabama was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement—a time when people worked together to change unfair laws and ensure everyone was treated equally, no matter their skin color.
Alabama became a significant focus of the Civil Rights Movement due to the number of influential events that occurred there.
Many individuals in Alabama took action despite facing challenges and risks, which gained attention and inspired efforts for equal rights across the country.
The changes that came from these events took time, but they played a key role in shaping a more equitable society.
Montgomery and Rosa Parks
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man, breaking an unfair rule.
Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where Black people refused to ride buses for over a year! This protest, led by a young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helped end bus segregation.
Birmingham and the Children’s March
In 1963, Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities in the U.S., meaning people were separated by race everywhere — schools, stores, restaurants, and more.
Black children as young as six marched peacefully for equal rights during the Children’s March. Despite facing fire hoses and police dogs, their bravery shocked the nation and pushed for change.
Listen to Let The Children March by Monica Clark Robinson to learn their story.
Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama
In 1963, two Black students, Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood, courageously enrolled at the University of Alabama despite efforts to block them.
President Kennedy sent the National Guard to ensure their safety, marking a turning point in desegregation.
Selma and the Fight for Voting Rights
In 1965, the Selma to Montgomery March demanded voting rights for Black Americans. Participants protested having to pass tests or pay money to vote.
Marchers were brutally attacked by police while attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on their first walk, now known as Bloody Sunday.
Two weeks later, they marched again with thousands of people from all over the country to Montgomery. Their determination led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ensured voting rights for everyone.
Review Your Road Trip
Below is a map of Alabama.
Click on the purple icons to review the cities across Alabama that influenced the Civil Rights Movement.
Head to the Got It? section to test your knowledge of Alabama history!
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