Before the 1950s

US History – Early Steps in the Civil Rights Movement, 1940-60

In this course, Professor Charles M. Payne (Rutgers University) explores the early steps made in the Civil Rights Movement from 1940-60. In the first module, we explore how the Civil Rights Movement evolved in the years before the 1950s. After this, we discuss the traditional origin story of the Civil Rights Movement in more detail. Then, we examine the price that some leaders of the Civil Rights Movement paid to establish a successful movement. In the penultimate module, we explore the career of one of the most crucial civil rights leaders - Ella Baker. In the final module, we offer some concluding remarks about the early Civil Right Movement.

Before the 1950s

In this module, we explore how the Civil Rights Movement evolved in the years before the 1950s. In particular, we will focus on: (i) why the 1940s were such a crucial period for the Civil Rights Movement, including the effect of WWII, the ending of white primaries with Smith v. Allwright and the decline of racial terrorism; (ii) the growth and early successes of the NAACP; (iii) A. Philip Randolph's impact; (iv) the consequences of the Great Migration; (v) the development of African American education, including the work of Septima Poinsette Clark.