The Women Who Fought for Civil Rights

With the passing of time, I find myself increasingly captivated by history—both conventional narratives and revisionist perspectives.

After all, how are we supposed to live in the present and plan for the future if we don’t understand the past?

In the UK, October is the official month we celebrate Black History Month, but did you know that in the United States, Black History Month is celebrated in February? So far this month, I’ve been reading up on the Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow, and much more, as well as falling deep into YouTube docuseries that highlight different perspectives on the struggles and triumphs of that period.

North American history is vast, spanning from the Declaration of Independence to the U.S. Civil War, through the Great Depression, and finally to the focus of this blog post—the momentous Civil Rights Movement.

Are you interested in learning about the critical milestones of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? The principal activists, the significant legislation enacted, and the numerous protests that took place? If so, grab a coffee or tea, get comfortable, and join me on a journey through DEI history…

The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement began in the late 1940s in the Deep South of the United States.

While activism for racial equality had existed for decades, global attention on racial injustice intensified due to the widespread protests of the 1940s through the 1960s. The movement’s primary objectives were to achieve desegregation in public spaces such as buses, bus terminals, schools, colleges, restaurants, and lunch counters. Additionally, it sought to improve voting rights for Black Americans and to prohibit racial discrimination in employment.

But let’s take it back a little further. Who were the key figures who spearheaded this movement? Most of us are familiar with the late, great

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. However, did you know about Mamie Till Mobley, Claudette Colvin, and Maude Ballou, to name a few?

Nine months before Rosa Parks’ famous protest, on March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin and three other Black students boarded a bus in downtown Montgomery. At some point during their journey, they were told to give up their seats for a white passenger. Claudette refused, leading to her arrest and indefinite probation.

Mamie Till Mobley

On August 28, 1955, Mamie’s 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was brutally murdered in Mississippi by two white men who claimed Emmett had wolf-whistled at one of their wives. Mamie fought to have her son’s body returned to Chicago, where she held an open-casket funeral, declaring,

“I want the world to see what they did to my boy.” The horrifying image of Emmett’s mutilated body became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

Maude Ballou

From 1955 to 1960, Maude Ballou served as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal secretary. She helped coordinate King’s Montgomery Bus Boycott speeches and outreach, handled media requests, and assisted in organizing boycott-related meetings and strategy sessions.

Diane Nash

A Chicago native, Diane Nash attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. There, she became the chairperson of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). As part of SNCC, Nash organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, playing a crucial role in student-led activism.

Coretta Scott King

After Dr. King’s assassination, Coretta Scott King continued his work, campaigning to make his birthday a national holiday. She also went on to establish the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, ensuring that his legacy lived on.

Continuing the Conversation

The Civil Rights Movement was not just a moment in history—it was a catalyst for change, powered by the courage and resilience of countless individuals. While key figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are widely recognized, the contributions of activists such as Claudette Colvin, Mamie Till Mobley, Maude Ballou, Diane Nash, and Coretta Scott King remind us that the fight for justice was a collective effort.

The sacrifices and determination of these women paved the way for many of the rights and freedoms we see today.

As a Black Brit, exploring this chapter of North American history has been both fascinating and eye-opening. While the Civil Rights Movement took place across the Atlantic, its impact was felt worldwide, including here in the UK.

If you’re reading this and you or someone you know has personal ties to this movement, I’d love to hear from you. Do you have family stories from this era? Did a relative take part in protests, marches, or activism? Feel free to share in the comments or reach out to me via my contact page—let’s continue this conversation all year round.


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