Protest Methods
During the Civil Rights Movement, people protested in various ways for equal rights. For example, after Rosa Parks’ arrest, many African-Americans started a protest for equal rights by boycotting the bus system. To boycott is to refuse to use something or buy goods from a business. Other African-Americans used sit-ins to protest. They went into restaurants labeled "whites only” and refused to leave until they were served. Both of these methods worked because buses and restaurants eventually stopped segregation.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was an African-American seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, during the 1950s. At this time, some laws required black people to sit in the back of the bus so that white people could sit in front. One day, Rosa was tired of this injustice. She refused to give up her seat. Even though she was arrested, she made a statement to her community and the world. Her single act inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Across the city, African-Americans boycotted or refused to use the city bus system. They walked to work, school, and church for 381 days.
Which questions can be answered by both texts? Select two. *
How did African-Americans protest civil rights?
What is a boycott?
How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?
Who was Rosa Parks?
What is a sit-in?