Reflecting on What I Learned from My Classmates’ Civil Rights Era Presentations

Introduction

Today’s class presentations on the Civil Rights Era ended up teaching me a lot more than I expected. Instead of just reviewing dates or major events, each person focused on different parts of the movement—some positive, some negative—and it all came together to create a clearer, more realistic picture of the time period. Hearing these stories from my classmates made the era feel more human, more complicated, and more intense than what you usually get from a textbook.

---

The Negative Side: Violence, Resistance, and the Fight to Hold Onto Segregation

One of the biggest things I learned was just how organized the resistance to civil rights really was. Several classmates discussed the rise of the Ku Klux Klan during the 1960s. I didn’t realize the KKK wasn’t unified at first—they started as separate, independent groups and only later came together. What shocked me most was learning that many politicians, sheriffs, and other authority figures were part of the Klan, giving racism institutional support.

My classmates also highlighted the tactics used to push back against desegregation: violent intimidation, harassment of civil rights workers, and rallies meant to scare anyone demanding change. The explanation of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963 was especially powerful. Hearing how four young girls were killed brought the brutality of the era into sharp focus.

The presentation on Freedom Summer in 1964 added another layer. The story of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner—three volunteers murdered while investigating the burning of a Black church—showed just how dangerous activism was in the South.

Another classmate explained Massive Resistance, the movement to delay or block school integration after Brown v. Board. The “stand in the schoolhouse door” story stuck with me: a governor physically blocking two Black students until the federal government stepped in. It was a clear example of how far states were willing to go to fight desegregation.

---

The Positive Side: Major Victories and Real Progress

Even with all of the violence and pushback, the presentations also showed how much progress was made. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 enforced the promises of Brown and created the EEOC, while the Voting Rights Act of 1965 led to Black voter registration jumping from 23% to 61% by 1969. Hearing those numbers helped me understand the scale of change.

Another classmate focused on the NAACP, and I learned how early leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells fought lynching and eventually helped win Brown v. Board. Others covered grassroots actions like the Greensboro sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott—all of which showed how everyday people pushed the country forward.

---

Conclusion

Overall, my classmates helped me understand the Civil Rights Era as a constant back-and-forth between progress and resistance. The movement’s biggest victories didn’t happen easily—they were fought for, pushed for, and defended against powerful forces trying to stop them. Hearing these presentations made the era feel alive and showed me how complex the fight for equality really was.