This book collects in a single, brief volume, documents reflecting key aspects of the Civil Rights Movement: the voices of social activists (and opponents), the legal struggle in the courts, and governmental responses to civil rights issues -- public statements, executive orders, legislation.

The book is a deliberate attempt to address the shortcomings of capsule histories of the Movement, histories that neglect to describe the range of public and private institutions, organizations, and individuals that contributed to -- and hindered -- its accomplishments. The introductory essays, providing narrative or analytical background, combined with the range of documents presented, allows the book to serve as an excellent supplement to textbook treatments of modern U.S. history, African American history, and/or the Civil Rights Movement.

The book includes over 100 documents -- personal narratives, court decisions, news reports, letters, legislation -- that provide the reader with insights into the philosophies, strategies, personalities of the Movement.