We Have These Men & Women To Thank 

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the US in 1865; however, for African Americans, that was only the beginning of the battle for equality. Less than 100 years ago, Black people in America were systematically being oppressed for the color of their skin. It took people with immense bravery, vision, and belief to make a change, some of whom paid with their lives. Here are the 20 most important figures of the civil rights movement who fought tirelessly for equality, justice, and peace in the USA. 

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1. Martin Luther King Jr.

When the civil rights movement is mentioned, the name on everyone's mind is Martin Luther King Jr. He's known for his nonviolent approach, his role in organizing the March on Washington which attracted over 250,000 people, and his epic "I Have A Dream" speech.

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2. Malcolm X

Malcolm X was one of the most important figures in the civil rights movement and the Black nationalist movement. He emphasized Black determinism, self-defense, pride in African heritage, and economic independence. 

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3. Rosa Parks

"The mother of the civil rights movement," Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white patron. Her arrest and subsequent conviction sparked a year-long bus boycott organized by Martin Luther King Jr. which ended in a Supreme Court decision naming the city's segregation laws unconstitutional.

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4. Thurgood Marshall 

Thurgood Marshall was a civil rights lawyer who used the courts to dismantle state-sponsored segregation. He became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.

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5. John Lewis

John Lewis was a civil rights activist and later congressman. He led a march from Selma to Montgomery that ended in violence, prompting President LBJ to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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6. Andrew Young

Martin Luther King Jr.'s close associate, Andrew Young was the strategist behind many of the major protests. He also helped draft the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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7. Jo Ann Robinson

Jo Ann Robinson was one of the most instrumental figures in planning, publicizing, and sustaining the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ultimately led to the desegregation of the bus system. She was an educator and president of the Women's Political Council in Montgomery, Alabama.

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8. Ella Baker

Ella Baker was a grassroots activist who helped create the African-American civil rights organization SCLC. She also encouraged students to form the SNCC which mobilized young activists for nonviolent protests. 

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9. Muhammad Ali 

In addition to being a legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali used his platform to advocate for racial justice and Black pride. His activism earned him the Liberty Medal. 

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10. Fannie Lou Hamer 

Fannie Lou Hamer was an advocate for voting rights who helped organize Freedom Summer in which hundreds of students helped African Americans register to vote in the South. She was also co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

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11. Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells was an investigative journalist who campaigned for anti-lynching legislation. She also successfully sued a train company for making her give up her seat.

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12. Fred Shuttlesworth

Fred Shuttlesworth was the co-founder of the SCLC, the organization that coordinated many protests and campaigns in the South. He also led the Birmingham protests, a series of demonstrations held to challenge segregation in Birmingham, Alabama.

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13. James Farmer

James Farmer was the co-founder of the Congress of Racial Equality which coordinated the freedom rides. He also organized the country's first rights sit-in.

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14. A. Philip Randolph

A. Philip Randolph was a labor organizer and political strategist. He was the chief organizer of the March on Washington which aimed to end employment discrimination. 

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15. Hosea Williams

Hosea Williams was one of the foremost leaders of the March on Montgomery which later became known as "Bloody Sunday" after it became violent. He became president of the SCLC's Summer Community Organization and Political Education.

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16. Roy Wilkins

Roy Wilkins was assistant secretary of the NAACP, which played a major role in some of the biggest civil rights victories including Brown v. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Believing that the best way to achieve change is through legislation, he testified before Congress multiple times and consulted for many US presidents. 

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17. Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was a close advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. He was also the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.

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18. Diane Nash

Diane Nash was the leader of the Nashville Student Movement that organized a series of sit-ins. She also played a key role in sustaining the freedom rides into Mississippi. 

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19. Medgar Evers

Medgar Evers established an NAACP office in Jackson, Mississippi along with his wife. He was assassinated for his activism. 

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20. Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture)

Stokely Carmichael was leader and founder of the All-African People's Revolutionary Party, an organization aimed at uniting all African people worldwide. He was also a leader n the development of the Black Power movement.

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