The time period that had the most impact was the civil rights movement that mainly took place during the 1950s and 1960s. The civil rights act of 1957 allowed federal prosecution of anyone who tried to prevent someone from voting. Despite a few gains, black Americans still faced prejudice in their daily lives. On February 1, 1960 four college students took a stand against segregation in Greensboro, North Carolina. They refused to leave a Woolworths lunch counter without being served. Over the next few days, hundreds of people joined the cause of what came to be known as the Greensboro sit-ins. After Some were arrested and charged with trespassing, protestors started to boycott all segregated lunch counters until owners caved in. The original four students were finally served where they had first stood their ground. On August 28, 1963, the March on Washington, one of the most famous events of the civil rights movement took place. It was organized by civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and Bayard Rustin. More than 200,000 people of all races congregated in Washington, D.C. for the peaceful March with the main purpose of forcing civil rights legislation and establishing job equality for everyone. This March is when MLK gave his famous speech in which he continually stated, “I have a dream”. The civil rights act of 1964, signed by Lyndon B. Johnson, was a law that guaranteed equal employment for all, limited the use of voter literacy tests, and allowed federal authorized to ensure public facilities were integrated. There were many more acts and laws put into place during the civil rights movement. This movement was an empowering yet precarious time for Black Americans. The efforts of civil rights activists and countless protestors of all races brought legislation to end segregation, Black voter suppression, and discriminatory employment and housing practices.
