About this course: The Modern Civil Rights Movement is a significant landmark in United States history. This movement was a struggle for human rights directly challenging the nation to extend its democratic principles to African Americans and all peoples. This course sheds light on the often overlooked strategic planning that supported the direction of the events and is told by a voice intimately involved in the organization of movement—Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. Topics include the history of the campaigns, the different coalitions and groups, philosophy and methods of nonviolent direct action, and the contemporary application of nonviolent conflict transformation. The course hosts several guest speakers, including Andrew Young, Reverend C.T. Vivian, Henry "Hank" Thomas, and Constance Curry. Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to: ● Discuss the contributions and involvement of civil rights activists and leaders in the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) campaigns in the United States. ● Examine the chronology and phases of the Movement and CRM campaigns. ● Recognize and characterize the diverse activist groups involved in the CRM. ● Discuss Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence from a historical perspective. ● List and define the principles and strategies of nonviolence. ● Examine organizational and social change applications related to nonviolence. ● Identify the role of nonviolence in modern activism along with additional resources to broaden knowledge of principles of nonviolence. ● Recognize the application of nonviolence theories to activism, current issues, and everyday life.
Created by: Emory University
Taught by: Bernard LaFayette, Jr. , Civil Rights Leader
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Spanish |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Movements & Campaigns
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to: 1) discuss the contributions and involvement of civil rights activists and leaders in the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) campaigns in the United States, and 2) examine the chronology and phases of the Movement and CRM campaigns.
14 videos, 5 readings
- Reading: Getting Started
- Video: Welcome to the Course
- Video: Bernard LaFayette, Jr.: Introduction & Bio
- Reading: Special Thanks
- Video: Phases of the Civil Rights Movement
- Video: Nashville Campaign
- Video: Selma to Montgomery March (1965)
- Video: Freedom Rides
- Video: Recruiting for the Freedom Rides
- Video: Freedom Ride Strategy
- Video: Leadership in the Civil Rights Movement
- Video: Interview with Andrew Young, Part 1
- Reading: Reading Activities & Resources
- Reading: Additional Readings & Resources
- Reading: Discussion Questions
- Video: Marching: Interview with Reginald Moore & Sam Walker
- Video: Interview with Andrew Young, Part 2
- Video: Interview with Andrew Young, Part 3
- Video: Interview with Andrew Young, Part 4
Graded: Quiz 1
WEEK 2
Organizations of the Civil Rights Movement
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to: 1) list the major groups of the American Civil Rights Movement, 2) discuss the impact of CRM groups, 3) discuss the importance of having multiple groups involved in the CRM, and 4) analyze the importance of strategy in organizing groups.
16 videos, 2 readings
- Video: The Strategies of Nonviolence are Timeless and Universal
- Video: Confronting Hate with Love
- Video: Fearlessness as a Strategy of Resistance
- Video: CORE: Congress of Racial Equality
- Video: SNCC: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
- Video: SCLC: Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Video: The Highlander Folk School
- Video: Organizing Efforts in Selma
- Video: Organizing in the Slums of Chicago
- Video: The Poor People's Campaign
- Video: Everyone Can Participate in the Movement
- Video: Remembering Viola Liuzzo
- Reading: Reading Activities & Resources
- Reading: Discussion Questions
- Video: Training and Mobilization Efforts of the Highlander Folk School
- Video: Interview with Connie Curry, Part 1
- Video: Interview with Connie Curry, Part 2
- Video: Interview with Henry Thomas
Graded: Quiz 2
WEEK 3
Nonviolent Philosophies & Tactics
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to: 1) list and define the six principles of nonviolence, 2) identify the six strategies of nonviolence, and 3) analyze the social dynamics of nonviolence.
11 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Dr. King: The Civil Rights Movement & Early Influences
- Video: Applying Nonviolent Philosophy to International Situations
- Video: Social Dynamics of Nonviolence
- Video: How Does Dr. King's Legacy of Nonviolence Resonate Today?
- Video: The Symbol of the Confederate Flag: Moving Forward
- Practice Quiz: Myths & Facts Exercise
- Video: The Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 1
- Video: The Six Principles of Nonviolence, Part 2
- Video: The Media's Role in the Civil Rights Movements of Yesterday and Today
- Video: Nonviolent Strategies
- Reading: Reading Activities & Resources
- Reading: Discussion Questions
- Video: Tri-State Conspiracy: Nonviolent Strategy in Action
- Video: Brown Chapel, Selma, Alabama
Graded: Quiz 3
WEEK 4
Organizational & Social Change
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to: 1) describe the various applications of nonviolence, 2) outline the academic foundations of nonviolence, and 3) define and discuss social action.
8 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Nonviolence: Tactic or Theory?
- Video: Dr. LaFayette: Why I Chose Nonviolence
- Video: Preparation & Support
- Video: Social Action in Practice: Lunch Counter Sit-Ins
- Video: Academic Foundations of Nonviolence
- Video: Nonviolence in the Workplace
- Reading: Reading Activities & Resouces
- Reading: Discussion Questions
- Video: Ministry in the Movement: Interview with Reverend C.T. Vivian, Part 1
- Video: Ministry in the Movement: Interview with Reverend C.T. Vivian, Part 2
Graded: Quiz 4
WEEK 5
Education for Change and the Future of Nonviolence Conflict Transformation
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to: 1) recognize current nonviolence initiatives involving Dr. LaFayette, 2) examine the work of Emory University's Center for Advancing Nonviolence (ECAN), 3) differentiate between the various modern applications of nonviolence, and 4) assess the future of nonviolence and education for change.
8 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Dr. LaFayette: Current Nonviolent Initiatives
- Video: ECAN: Emory Center for Advancing Nonviolence
- Video: Internationalizing Nonviolence Training
- Video: The Importance of Collaboration & Partnerships
- Video: The Future of Nonviolence Conflict Transformation
- Video: Interview with Carol Anderson, Part 1
- Video: Interview with Carol Anderson, Part 2
- Reading: Reading Activities & Resources
- Reading: Discussion Questions
- Video: Nonviolent Transformation in Nigeria
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Ratings and Reviews
Simply excellent. Truly an education on history and planning for the future - future generations, that is. This teaching is phenomenal insight that should be shared in every high school and college that seeks societal understanding and growth and desires a turning away from past atrocities and human division. Thank you for sharing!
The lectures with Dr. LaFayette were excellent in their coverage of the topic, and they introduced me to many unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. I also really appreciated the interviews with Dr. CT Vivian and Ambassador Andrew Young--I highly recommend taking this course.
Absolutely fascinating course - a privilege to have insights from one of the major lights of the civil rights movement
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Dr. Bernard LaFayette is an excellent storyteller and he recalls many of the events of the Civil Rights movement with great passion and reflection. All of the guest speakers and interviewers were excellent. There is a lot of important American History in this course.