COMM 307 Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement

Few mass movements in the history of the United States of America have challenged and changed the nation in more fundamental ways than the civil rights crusade of the 1950s-1960s. However, to label the myriad initiatives for racial justice as a single movement distorts historical reality. The struggle to attain opportunity, equality, and security during that time involved a wide array of people and organizations, often at odds over tactics as well as goals. Throughout this course, we will explore not only the historical past of the movement, but also analyze its relevance for the present historical moment.