The Civil Rights Movement was a response to the systemic discrimination and segregation faced by African Americans in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. The movement was sparked by events such as the murder of Emmett Till, the bus boycott in Montgomery, and the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. played a crucial role in organizing nonviolent protests and advocating for equal rights. The movement led to significant legislative victories, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed segregation and discrimination based on race. The effects of the Civil Rights Movement were profound, leading to increased political and social empowerment for African Americans, and paving the way for future movements for equality and justice. Despite progress, issues of inequality and racism continue to persist in American society today.
