American civil rights campaigner, and widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King (1927 – 2006) speaks to a crowd, Washington, DC, September 18, 1981.
The Civil Rights Movement was the fight for equality in several sectors of African-American lives in the United States. The movement took place from approximately 1954 to 1968 and tackled segregation, housing, and voting rights after the Civil War made slavery illegal. While slavery was abolished, the lives of white Americans and Black Americans had little in common. The right to live in certain neighborhoods, eat at restaurants, ride the bus, and go to schools were all segregated. Black Americans could not go to many places, and live in many places, that white Americans were able to. Without being able to vote, the concerns of Black Americans fell on deaf ears. While peaceful and nonviolent protests were how the movement fought back against inequality, protestors were met with violence. One particular incident is referred to as Bloody Sunday, where protestors were brutally attacked as they marched to Selma. Without the Civil Rights Movement, Black Americans would not have the liberties that they do today.
Women's Role In The Civil Rights Movement
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement, women were also a large part of the efforts to create monumental change. "Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul," Coretta Scott King said in one of her famous quotes. Women walked hand in hand for change as they organized protests, founded charitable organizations for the advancement of Black youth, and strategized plans for the future while still being disrespected, with many of their achievements silenced.
"I truly don’t believe the younger generation understands the sacrifices my generation made, and part of that is my generation’s decision not to put those sacrifices in front of them," former NAACP chairman Myrlie Evers-Williams said. "We didn’t want them to see what might happen to them. And part of it was probably battle fatigue."
Take a look below at five great women who impacted the Civil Rights Movement:
Rosa Parks
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: A booking photo of Rosa Parks is shown during a press conference with members of the Congressional Black Caucus outside the U.S. Capitol on November 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced the "Rosa Parks Day Act," that would designate December 1 as a federal holiday commemorating the arrest of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Coretta Scott King
ATLANTA - JANUARY 19: Flanked by her children Martin Luther King III (R) and Rev. Bernice Albertine King (L), Coretta Scott King speaks during the 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church January 19, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. The service was held in honor of what would have been King's 75th birthday. (Photo by Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images) (Photo by Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images)
Diane Nash
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 7: U.S. President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Diane Nash, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Biden awarded the nation's highest civilian honor to 17 recipients. The award honors individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Dorothy Height
WASHINGTON - MAY 2: Civil Rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height attends a news conference to discuss the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March May 2, 2005 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan also announced "The Millions More Movement," which will culminate in a march by men, women and children of all races, religions and political backgrounds on the National Mall in Washington on the weekend of Oct. 14-16, 2005. Badu will perform at the official kick-off rally for the march. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Myrlie Evers-Williams
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 26: NAACP Chairman Myrlie Evers-Williams speaks onstage during the 41st NAACP Image awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on February 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP) (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP)
Autumn Hawkins is the National Hip-Hop and R&B writer for Beasley Media, currently residing in New Jersey. Prior to working at Beasley Media, she was in broadcast news as an entertainment producer. When she's not impatiently waiting for Beyoncé to drop new music, she is reading, shopping, or planning a vacation.
