Resistance
African Americans resisted segregation through a variety of means, including:
* Legal challenges: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other civil rights organizations challenged segregation laws in court, arguing that they were unconstitutional. This culminated in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
* Direct action: African Americans also engaged in direct action to protest segregation, such as sit-ins, freedom rides, and marches. These actions often resulted in violence and arrests, but they also raised awareness of the issue of segregation and helped to build support for the Civil Rights Movement.
* Boycotts: African Americans also used boycotts to protest segregation. One of the most famous examples is the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which began in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. The boycott lasted for over a year and ended with the desegregation of the Montgomery bus system.
Accommodation
While some African Americans resisted segregation, others chose to accommodate it. This was often done in order to avoid conflict or to improve their lives within the system. Some African Americans established their own businesses and institutions, such as churches and schools. They also worked to build political power within their communities, such as by running for local office or joining civil rights organizations.
The Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a mass protest movement that worked to end segregation and secure equal rights for African Americans. The movement began in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1960s. During this time, African Americans used a variety of tactics, including protests, marches, and civil disobedience, to demand change. The movement was ultimately successful in achieving its goals, and segregation was dismantled in the United States.