The year 1954 was a turning point in the civil rights movement. The Supreme Court decision in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case, a combination of lawsuits challenging school segregation in the United States, would finally put an end to “separate but equal.” This decision had a monumental ripple effect and positively influenced the African American community going forward. As many southern white people were furious about the Court’s ruling to end segregation, reaction in the form of violence and legislation to stall school integration became the new battleground. And the formation of White Citizens’ Councils across the South worked to keep Black Americans from gaining the equality they deserved.

This detailed account explains why 1954 was such a critical year in the civil rights movement.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The years from 1939 to 1954 were foundational to the civil rights movement. Resistance was often met with violence against Black Americans struggling to end discrimination and segregation. Yet the courage of those yearning for equal opportunities under the law continued to persevere and set the stage for the pivotal events of the late 1950s and 1960s.

With stunning photographs throughout and rich back matter, each book focuses on a specific year and chronologically follows the detailed events that occurred and the changes that took place.