Youth activism was central to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s—the struggle that sought equal rights for Black Americans and an end to racial segregation. During an OJJDP webinar, The Civil Rights Movement—Celebrating 60 Years of the Civil Rights Act: Getting Youth Involved, panelists recalled the acts of bravery and dedication shown by thousands of young people, and considered ways to encourage youth today to fight injustice and advocate for civil rights.

“Youth voices matter. That will never change. And, in fact, we all need youth to facilitate real, lasting change.”

—OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan

The July 25th webinar commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (see sidebar). It was the latest in a series of webinars hosted under the Preventing Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying initiative, which OJJDP launched in 2021 in response to the frequency of hate crimes in the United States and their impact on young people (see Resources, below).

“From the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter efforts of today, young people have always played a pivotal role in movements for societal change,” OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan said during welcoming remarks. She lauded the youth who worked to bring an end to the “Jim Crow” laws that sanctioned discrimination and segregation. Their protests took multiple forms, from voter registration drives and courthouse demonstrations to sit-ins at lunch counters and the Freedom Riders, who traveled through the South by bus, protesting segregated buses and bus stations. Many activists endured harassment, threats, and physical violence from white supremacist groups and law enforcement officers. 

“They were beaten with bats and night sticks; burned with cigarettes and acid; sprayed with fire hoses, pepper spray, and tear gas; and beaten, bloodied, and shot,” Administrator Ryan said. Many were denied medical treatment and faced legal charges, expulsion from school, and incarceration. Their fortitude and commitment to justice ultimately helped drive the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Administrator Ryan was joined by a panel of speakers devoted to social change, including two who participated in the Civil Rights Movement as youth:

 Charles Person, at 18 the youngest of the original Freedom Riders, became active in the Civil Rights Movement while a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. He and 12 other Freedom Riders departed Washington, DC, on May 4, 1961, after 4 days of training in nonviolence. In several Southern towns, they encountered threats, fire bombs, beatings, and other violence from mobs that included members of the Ku Klux Klan and local police officers. The Freedom Riders adhered to nonviolence.  

 Activist Joanne Bland, a native of Selma, AL, joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) when she was just 8 years old. SNCC played a central role in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in countless events, including college sit-in protests, the Freedom Rides, and boycotts of segregated stores, theaters, and restaurants. By the time Ms. Bland was 11, she had been arrested at least 13 times. She survived the Bloody Sunday assault in 1965, when state troopers attacked and tear-gassed 600 peaceful activists on Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge. Ms. Bland founded Foot Soldiers Park and Education Center in 2021.

“You need to bring your ideas to the table, improve upon what we did right. Just throw away what we did wrong and bring your ideas to the table,” Ms. Bland said when asked how young people today should continue the legacy. “Your ideas are most important. You have to be the ones we’ve been waiting for. We’ve got you this far—now it’s your turn.”

“Change belongs with young people, and they have ideas,” Mr. Person added. He advised young people to strategize—and to embrace nonviolence. “There is no guarantee that you’re going to be successful,” he said, “but you have to do something.”

Other webinar panelists included Charles Woods, Director of Education and Training for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, who reviewed the history of the Civil Rights Movement and underscored the impact of public outcry and demonstration. Carla Rubalcava, Managing Director of Illinois Programs for Mikva Challenge, presented Mikva’s approach to youth-led advocacy and empowering young people to embrace their lived experience and become engaged citizens. Finally, Justin Lock, head of the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service (CRS), described services the CRS provides to schools, communities, and other stakeholders to resolve conflicts and prevent and respond to hate crimes and other forms of violence.

Resources:

In addition to the ongoing webinar series, OJJDP’s Preventing Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying initiative has held two symposia, released a fact sheet, and compiled a list of resources related to understanding and preventing hate crimes and identity-based bullying.