SCLC

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was an African American organization during the Civil Rights Movement.

SCLC's first president MLK Jr. 

The organization was founded on January 10th, 1957 following the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts. Martin Luther King Jr. served as the organizations first president.

The platform that the group adhered to was one of nonviolence, based off of Martin Luther King Jr's own beliefs in non-violence.

Pin worn by members of the SCLC

In addition, the group was largely involved in local black communities in order to help the people overcome racial segregation.

One of the most important aspects of the SCLC was their involvement with Citizenship Schools. These schools helped teach African Americans how to read and write so that they could pass the literacy tests for voter registration.

Students at SCLC run Citizenship School

The SCLC was also involved with numerous other Civil Rights activities such as the March on Washington and the Selma Voting Rights campaign.

SCLC was involved in the Selma Voting Rights Campaign 

The SCLC had a unique feature in the SCOPE (Summer Community Organization on Political Education) project. It was a volunteer force that placed mostly white college students to help register black voters in southern states between 1965-1966.

Volunteers of the SCLC SCOPE project 

Brown vs. Board of Education Video

Above is a video from a documentary from the Discovery Channel, highlighting the critical role that students played during the Civil Rights Movement, with particular respect to the Brown v Board of Education case.

The video explains how some of the most important 'battles' of the Civil Rights Movement were fought by students and within the classroom, and that without these battles and the Civil Rights Movement would not have achieved its great success.

The Little Rock Nine- A Look Back

This video depicts the events of the Little Rock Nine which made news across the country back in the year 1957. 

SNCC's Legacy

The SNCC legacy has been said to live on due to present day "The Wall Street Movement". The goal of the SNCC was non violence in actions and for their voices to be heard not through violent action but through large demonstration. The SNCC consisted of mostly southern students who wanted to live on not like their parents and grandparents, but as new free individuals. Both black and white individuals joined the SNCC movement. Sit-ins and walking protests were the most common form of non-violent protest conducted. SNCC was brought together to bring students and young individuals together who wanted their voice heard. The organization typically just supported with large numbers other non-violent protests already held. SNCC also helped voting rights and to get the word out nation wide. 

This video is a look into the overall goal of the SNCC, reasons behind their decisions regarding demonstrations and the events leading up to the establishment of the SNCC. The commentary is depicted by past members and organization founders of the SNCC and told through their eyes.This video is a glimpse into the long history of the SNCC and the legacy that it has left on America today. CNN created this special on the members of the SNCC for the 50th anniversary since the beginning of the SNCC.

These individuals were brave, determined and strong individuals who sometimes put their lives on the line, to go up against societies norms and gain equality the American way. 

The Legacy of James Meredith

James Meredith 1962

James Meredith Today 

In 2002, ABC News, put together a new piece on the legacy of James Meredith with it being the 40th anniversary of his fight to enter the University of Mississippi.  Below is the link to the clip that originally aired.

2002 ABC News Piece on the Legacy of James Meredith

Ruby Bridges Shares Her Experience

Norman Rockwell painting for Ruby Bridges the day she was the first child to desegregate an elementary school.

PBS (Public Broadcast System) in 1997 interviewed Ruby Bridges - Hall on her experience in 1960.  She was as previously noted the first African American child to desegregate an elementary school.  Below is a link to the transcript of the interview.

Ruby Bridges Interview Transcript