United States 1950s-1960s

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• United States1950s-1960s

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Civil Disobedience

• definition
• refusal to obey a law that is considered
• unjust by using nonviolent techniques such
• as boycotting, picketing, and sit-ins,
• especially for the purpose of bringing about
• change to said unjust law

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An unjust law is a code that a majority inflicts
on a minority that is not binding on itself. This
is difference made legal.
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On the other hand a just law is a code that a
majority compels a minority to follow that it is
willing to follow itself. This is sameness made
legal.
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Brown v. Board of Education1954

• background
• -Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
• -segregation is legal if separate, but equal
• Brown v. Board of Ed. overturned this
• -segregation in public schools is
  unconstitutional because not equal
• paved the way for further integration

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1957 Little Rock Nine
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There are just and there are unjust laws. I
would agree with Saint Augustine that, An unjust
law is no law at all.
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1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott
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Montgomery Bus Boycott1955

• December 1, 1955-December 21, 1956
• sparked by Rosa Parks arrest
• -Parks was arrested for refusing to give up
  her seat to a white man
• people walked and carpooled to work, to run
  errands, etc.

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Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a
crisis and establish such creative tension that a
community has constantly refused to negotiate is
forced to confront the issue.
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1963 Woolworths SIT-INJackson, Mississippi
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One who breaks an unjust law must do it openly,
lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the
penalty.
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Civil Rights Act1964

• proposed by Pres. Kennedy, signed by Pres.
  Johnson
• made racial discrimination illegal in public
  places, such as
• -theaters, restaurants, hotels
• also dealt with problem of African-Americans
  voting in the Deep South

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1963 a marchBirmingham, Alabama
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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhereWhatever affects one directly affects
all indirectly.
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Other Civil Rights Leaders

• WEB du Bois (1868-1963)
• wanted African-Americans to assimilate into white
  culture, which would make them equal
• Malcolm X (1925-1965)
• wanted a separate country for black people until
  it was possible for them all to return to Africa