In the 1960s, states in the South had unfair rules known as Jim Crow laws. These laws kept Black Americans separate from White Americans. Black people went to different schools. They had separate seating areas in restaurants and on buses. 

    The laws also kept Black people from voting and holding many types of well-paying jobs. (There were fewer of these laws in the Northern states. But segregation and hateful treatment were common there too.)

    Growing up in Birmingham, Tom was affected by Jim Crow laws. He couldn’t go to school with White kids. He couldn’t play on the same playgrounds as they did either. The separate spaces set aside for Black people were often dirty, old, or run-down.

    Black Americans were also victims of violence. Attacks against Black people were common in Birmingham and throughout the South. Tom’s parents urged him to be careful. They worried when he went out in the city by himself. 

    In the 1960s, the South had unfair rules. They were called Jim Crow laws. They kept Black people separate from White people. Black people went to different schools. They sat in separate areas in restaurants and on buses.

    The laws also kept Black people from voting. They kept them from having many well-paying jobs. (The North had fewer of these laws. But segregation and hate were common there too.)

    Birmingham had Jim Crow laws. Tom couldn’t go to school with White kids. He couldn’t play on Whites-only playgrounds. The separate spaces for Black people were often dirty and old.

    Black Americans were victims of violence too. Tom’s parents told him to be careful. They worried when he went out alone.

    In the 1960s, states in the South had unfair rules—known as Jim Crow laws—that kept Black Americans separate from White Americans. Black people went to different schools, and they had separate seating areas in restaurants and on buses.

    The laws also prevented Black people from voting and from holding many types of well-paying jobs. (Although there were fewer of these laws in the Northern states, segregation and hateful treatment were common there too.)

    Growing up in Birmingham, Tom was affected by Jim Crow laws. He couldn’t go to school with White kids or play on the same playgrounds as they did, and the separate spaces set aside for Black people were often dirty, old, or run-down.

    In addition, Black Americans were victims of violence. Attacks against Black people were common in Birmingham and throughout the South. Tom’s parents worried whenever he went out in the city by himself, and they urged him to be careful.

    Despite the danger, people across the U.S. were pushing back against unfair laws. This fight for equal treatment for Black Americans became known as the civil rights movement.

    One of the movement’s leaders was a young minister from Atlanta, Georgia. His name was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King urged people to stand up to the laws in peaceful, nonviolent ways.

    Nonviolent protests started springing up across the country. Black people refused to ride segregated city buses. They sat down in Whites-only restaurants, politely waiting to be served.

    Tom’s father was a minister named Marvin. He helped lead such protests in Birmingham. Inspired by his dad, Tom soon joined the cause. 

    Despite the danger, people across the U.S. fought against these unfair laws. This fight became known as the civil rights movement.

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader of the movement. He was a young minister. He was from Atlanta, Georgia. He urged people to stand up to the laws in peaceful, nonviolent ways.

    Nonviolent protests happened across the country. Black people stopped riding segregated city buses. They went to Whites-only restaurants. They politely waited to be served.

    Tom’s dad was a minister. He helped lead protests in Birmingham. Tom was inspired by his dad. He joined the cause.

    Despite the danger, people across the United States were pushing back against unfair laws. This fight for equal treatment for Black Americans became known as the civil rights movement.

    One of the movement’s leaders was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a young minister from Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. King encouraged people to stand up to the laws in peaceful, nonviolent ways.

    Nonviolent protests started springing up across the country. Black people refused to ride segregated city buses. They also sat down in Whites-only restaurants, politely waiting to be served.

    Tom’s father, a minister named Marvin, helped lead such protests in Birmingham. Inspired by his father’s actions, Tom soon joined the cause.

    By 1963, the civil rights movement had made some progress. Still, segregation was a reality in much of the nation. Movement leaders decided it was time for a national protest.

    That’s how Tom found himself in that huge crowd in Washington, D.C. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., the march began. Tom set off with his friends. He proudly waved a sign that said “Justice for All.” 

    But for Tom, the highlight of the day came later that afternoon. That’s when Dr. King took the stage. He was to give the last speech of the day. By then, more than 250,000 people had gathered. 

    As Dr. King began, his powerful voice carried through the air. He urged people to continue pushing for civil rights in peaceful ways. Then, about halfway through his speech, Dr. King looked up. That’s when he stopped reading from his speech—and began speaking from his heart.

    “I have a dream,” he said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” He described his vision of a better future for Black Americans. Over and over, he repeated the words he would become famous for: “I have a dream.”

    When he finished, people in the audience cheered loudly. They cried and hugged strangers. Standing there, Tom felt inspired—and full of hope. 

    By 1963, the civil rights movement had made some progress. Still, much of the nation had segregation. Movement leaders decided to plan a national protest.

    That’s why Tom was in Washington, D.C. The march began just before 11:30 a.m. Tom marched with friends. He proudly waved a sign. It said “Justice for All.”

    The highlight of the day came in the afternoon. That’s when Dr. King took the stage. He was to give the last speech. By then, the crowd had more than 250,000 people.

    Dr. King began. His powerful voice carried through the air. He urged people to keep pushing for civil rights in peaceful ways. About halfway through his speech, Dr. King looked up. He stopped reading from his notes. He spoke from his heart.

    “I have a dream,” he said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” He described his vision of a better future for Black Americans. Over and over, he repeated the words he would become famous for: “I have a dream.”

    When he finished, people cheered. They cried. They hugged strangers. Tom felt inspired—and full of hope.

    By 1963, the civil rights movement had made some progress. Still, segregation remained a reality in much of the nation—so movement leaders decided the time was right for a national protest.

    That’s how Tom found himself in that huge crowd in the nation’s capital. The march began shortly before 11:30 a.m., and Tom set off with his friends, proudly waving a sign that said “Justice for All.”

    But for Tom, the highlight of the event came later that afternoon when Dr. King took the stage to deliver the final speech of the day. By that time, a crowd of more than 250,000 people had gathered.

    As Dr. King began, his powerful voice carried through the air. He urged people to continue pushing for civil rights in peaceful ways. Then, about halfway through his speech, Dr. King looked up. That’s when he stopped reading from his prepared speech—and started speaking from his heart.

    “I have a dream,” he said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

    Dr. King described his vision of a better future for Black Americans. Over and over, he repeated the words he would become famous for: “I have a dream.”

    When he finished, people in the audience cheered loudly. They cried and hugged strangers. Standing there, Tom felt inspired—and full of hope.