A Complex Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a complex social movement that came to define the 1950s-1970s in American history. Many issues in contemporary American politics and society take their root in the Civil Rights Movement, yet the movement was a complex one not easily understood in "black and white" terms. This investigation is intended to share the Civil Rights Movement from multiple and diverse perspectives to better understand the movement's complexity and significance. Please realize you will be exposed to other people and events in this investigation that relate to the period. Feel free to explore those on your own to understand more about the perspective shared below.
Using SPACES to fill in the gaps of our historical knowledge...
When we study a historical event, or in this case a historical movement, it is helpful to have a strategy for looking at multiple perspectives. Perspective and point of view are critical components to understanding history. There are so many different ways one may view an event that is seemingly "cut and dry." This is especially true when one's own biases and prejudices factor into their point of view. Use the following technique (SPACES) to help you, not only investigate the content of each document, but also determine the various perspectives (Slants) represented by each document's author or subject. Use/read these sources carefully using the technique linked below and you might be able to uncover the gaps or SPACES that we often leave out of history when we only look at one or two points of view.