From Freedom Rides to Ferguson Narratives of Nonviolence in the American Civil Rights Movement
The Modern Civil Rights Movement is a significant landmark in United States history. This movement was a struggle for human rights directly challenging the nation to extend its democratic principles to African Americans and all peoples. This course sheds light on the often overlooked strategic planning that supported the direction of the events and is told by a voice intimately involved in the organization of movement—Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. Topics include the history of the campaigns, the different coalitions and groups, philosophy and methods of nonviolent direct action, and the contemporary application of nonviolent conflict transformation. The course hosts several guest speakers, including Andrew Young, Reverend C.T. Vivian, Henry “Hank” Thomas, and Constance Curry.Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:
● Discuss the contributions and involvement of civil rights activists and leaders in the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) campaigns in the United States.
● Examine the chronology and phases of the Movement and CRM campaigns.
● Recognize and characterize the diverse activist groups involved in the CRM.
● Discuss Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence from a historical perspective.
● List and define the principles and strategies of nonviolence.
● Examine organizational and social change applications related to nonviolence.
● Identify the role of nonviolence in modern activism along with additional resources to broaden knowledge of principles of nonviolence.
● Recognize the application of nonviolence theories to activism, current issues, and everyday life.
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Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Movements & Campaigns
Week 2
Organizations of the Civil Rights Movement
Week 3
Nonviolent Philosophies & Tactics
Week 4
Organizational & Social Change
Week 5
Education for Change and the Future of Nonviolence Conflict Transformation
FAQ
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Reviews
One of the best and most informative classes I have taken on Coursera. I highly recommend for everyone!
This course was outstanding. There was a lot of information about the Civil Rights I didn't know about. The power of learning never gets old.
It was a very useful course to get introduced to the Civil Rights Movement and the different strategies they implemented to fight for their cause. Thank you!
Excellent course!!!!!!!! Thank you so much—I learned an incredible amount of information and found this course to be very transforming.
