Religion and the Modern Civil Rights Movement,1954-1968

3 units

The modern Civil Rights Movement is a landmark event in the nation's political, civic, cultural, and social history. In many contexts, this movement for and against civil and legal equality took on a religious ethos, with activists, opponents, and observers believing that the net result of the marches, demonstrations, and legislative rulings would redeem and/or destroy The Soul of the Nation. This seminar examines the modern Civil Rights Movement and its strategies and goals, with an emphasis on the prominent religious ideologies and activities that were visible and utilized in the modern movement. The course pays particular attention to the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Islamic traditions, figures, and communities that were indifferent, combative, instrumental, and/or supportive of Civil Rights legislation throughout the mid-twentieth century.