The African American Civil Rights Movement was a series of protests in the American South from approximately 1955 to 1968. The aim The overall aim of the civil rights movement was to achieve racial equality under the law. The protest tactics were, by and large, acts of civil disobedience. They rarely intended to be violent. From sit-ins to boycotts to marches, activists involved in the civil rights movement have been vigilant and dedicated to the cause without being aggressive. While African American men seemed to be the leaders of this epic movement, African American women played a huge role behind the scenes and in the protests. When we talk about the American civil rights movement, the names that seem to come up are those of prominent people. black men. Although these men have done a tremendous amount of good during this movement, many women seem to be misrepresented or miscredited. Black women had a huge influence during the civil rights movement. While many protests and movements were led by men, women organized, promoted and popularized ideas themselves behind the scenes. Many women were heavily involved in political organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and many others. Even though they were not directly involved in organizations, many black women became informal movement leaders and/or enthusiastic participants. Some famous examples of black women's involvement include: citizenship schools in South Carolina, the Montgomery bus boycott, and various women's participation in political groups and organizations. One of the most influential women in the medium of paper... ...America? Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. "Women in the Civil Rights Movement: Pioneers and Torchbearers, 1941-1965. By Vicki L. Crawford, Jacqueline Anne. Rouse, and Barbara Woods. Vol. 16. Brooklyn, NY: Carlson Pub., 1990. 27- 37. Print. Robinson, Jo Ann Gibson and David J. Garrow The Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Women Who Started It: The Memoirs of Jo Ann Gibson Robinson: University of Tennessee, 1987. Print. Ransby, Barbara. Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 2003. Print. Standley, Anne “The Role of Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement.” : Pioneers and Torchbearers, 1941-1965 By Vicki L. Crawford, Jacqueline Anne and Barbara Woods Brooklyn, NY: Carlson Pub.., 1990. 183-202..