African American Civil Rights Movement In The 1960's

With the beginning of the Cold War, America also began its campaign against racism by developing positive policies, movements, and ideas which helped the success of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950’s and 1960’s (Amoroso, 2017). As many African-Americans began to encourage the civil rights movement, President Truman was developing a plan recognize the need for equality regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin. Truman was the first president to speak at the national convention held by the NAACP. In 1946, Truman formed the Committee on Civil Rights, and based on their recommendations, ordered the desegregation of the military in 1948. It was in 1947, that World War II veteran Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play major league baseball when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In spite of the hostility and violence directed toward him, Jackie Robinson remained strong and steadfast, as he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award paving the way for more African-Americans to play professional sports. In 1954, landmark cases, like Brown v. Board of Education, were also beginning to break

Led by four black college freshman, a sit-in was held at the lunch counter of Woolworth’s in Greensboro, NC in protest that African-Americans could be served anywhere in the store with the exception of the lunch counter. This led to many other sit-ins in white only restaurants across the city, and eventually across the country. Their protests would eventually pay off as some businesses began to desegregate due to revenue loss. As the 1960’s progressed, many sit-ins and freedom rides became local and national successes for the Civil Rights movement. In 1963, the historic march on Washington, D.C. led by Dr. Martin Luther King advocated for federal civil rights