What's in a Word?

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality."
        - Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1964

What's in a Word?

• Boycott - The act of refusing to purchase goods or services from a company or business as a form of protest.
• Campaign - A series of related political activities designed to bring a desired result.
• Civil Rights - The rights every citizen of the United States has simply by being an American citizen, such as the right to vote and the right to free speech.
• Constitution of the United States - A document of fundamental principles according to which United States is governed.
• Demonstration - An organized public display of welcome, approval, or disapproval.
• Discrimination - The act of making a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.
• Equality - Equal ranking in regard to quality, power and status.
• Emancipation Proclamation - a proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, freeing the slaves in those territories still in rebellion against the Union.
• Freedom - Having liberty of action, choice, or thought; independence.
• Integrate - Removal of barriers that separate people by race or religion; to become one whole.
• Justice - Fair treatment and due reward; that which is morally right.
• NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• Negro - (Often offensive) A member of the black race distinguished from members of other races by usually inherited physical and physiological characteristics without regard to language or culture; especially a member of a people belonging to the African branch of the black race.
• Obstacles - Something that or someone who stands in the way of a desired result.
• Oppress - To weigh down or crush by use of force or authority.
• Prejudice - A negative judgment made without complete information.
• Protesters - A public gathering of people who show their disapproval of something or someone by participating in a demonstration.
• Race - A group of people having the same ancestors.
• Racism - The belief that one race is superior to others; discriminatory treatment of others based on race.
• Resistance - A fight or struggle against someone or something.
• Riot - A violent public disturbance by a large number of people.
• Segregation - The act of separating people from different groups for the purpose of discrimination.
• Sit-in - A protest demonstration in which participants sit in one place and refuse to move.

Other Important Concepts

• Passive Resistance - Peaceful protesting in the form of refusing to cooperate with injustice.
• Civil Disobedience - Refusal to obey a law that is immoral, unfair or violates civil rights.
• Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Law that prohibits racial discrimination in public accommodations (such as hotels, theaters and restaurants), employment and voter registration. This law also encouraged desegregation of public schools.
• Service to Others - One has "civil rights" and also "civic responsibilities" to help others through volunteer service and community participation.
• Acts of Kindness - Slightly different from "service to others," acts of kindness are small, selfless acts intended to help or please an individual - often a random stranger.
• Civil Rights Movement - The struggles between 1955 and 1968 to end discrimination against African-Americans and to end racial segregation.

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