How would you feel if they told you that you can't sit in the front of the bus or that you can't dine in certain restaurants because of the color of your skin? The civil rights movement was a movement that carried out large numbers of nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination in America, particularly in the Southern states, during the 1950s and 1960s. The struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights in America during this time was a big deal. The civil rights movement aimed not only to stop racial segregation among African Americans, but also to challenge the dire economic, political, and cultural consequences of the time. But with the help of great leaders and organizations of the civil rights movement, we are helping to curb the pattern of discrimination and segregation of African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou were great leaders who had a huge impact on the civil rights movement; even though Dr. King was on the ground marching and protesting to fight segregation and Angelou wrote poetry to inspire the movement and people aware of segregation, they both helped end segregation here in America (American Civil Rights Movement ). King organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization founded to combat racial segregation in the South. The king's attitude towards non-violent protests and campaigns led to numerous arrests during the 1950s and 1960s. His protests were successful in ending racial segregation in the South, but his protests and campaigns in Birmingham, Alabama brought him worldwide attention. Thanks to the hard work and determination of King, who brought together more than thousands and thousands of people to bo...... middle of paper ...... ideas, King through marches and protests, Angelou through his writings is considered two of the most influential people for their achievements as civil rights activists. During the civil rights movement both helped blacks understand how to fight racial segregation and prejudice. Works Cited “American Civil Rights Movement.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online academic edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. .“Martin Luther King, Jr...” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online academic edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. .The Poetry Foundation. 2013. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/maya-angelou#poe