Organizations & Movements

c. 1800–1865

Underground Railroad

A secret network of routes, safe houses, and abolitionists that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the Northern states and Canada.

1816–Present

African Methodist Episcopal Church

The first independent Black Protestant denomination in the United States, founded by Richard Allen in Philadelphia to provide a place of worship free from racial discrimination.

1865–1872

Freedmen's Bureau

A federal agency established after the Civil War to help formerly enslaved people transition to freedom by providing food, housing, schools, and legal assistance.

1905–1910

Niagara Movement

A civil rights group founded by W.E.B. Du Bois and William Monroe Trotter that demanded full civil liberties and an end to racial discrimination, paving the way for the NAACP.

1909–Present

NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded to fight racial inequality through legal action, education, and advocacy, becoming the most influential civil rights organization in American history.

1914–1930s

Universal Negro Improvement Association

Founded by Marcus Garvey, the UNIA became the largest mass movement in African American history, promoting Black pride, economic self-sufficiency, and pan-African unity.

1920–c. 1960

Negro Leagues

Professional baseball leagues founded because Black players were banned from Major League Baseball, producing legendary athletes and becoming a cornerstone of Black culture and community.

1942–Present

Congress of Racial Equality

A civil rights organization that pioneered the use of nonviolent direct action in America, organizing the Freedom Rides and sit-ins that challenged segregation across the South.

1957–Present

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Led by Martin Luther King Jr., the SCLC coordinated nonviolent protests across the South, including the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington.

1960–1970s

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

A youth-led civil rights organization that organized sit-ins, voter registration drives, and Freedom Rides, giving young people a powerful voice in the fight for equality.

1930–Present

Nation of Islam

A religious and political organization that promoted Black self-reliance, discipline, and pride, most famously led by Elijah Muhammad and championed by Malcolm X.

1966–1982

Black Panther Party

Founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California, the Black Panther Party fought for Black liberation through community programs, armed self-defense, and political activism.

1966–1970s

Black Power Movement

A political movement that emphasized racial pride, self-determination, and the creation of Black political and cultural institutions, shifting the civil rights struggle toward empowerment.

1971–Present

Congressional Black Caucus

A caucus of Black members of the United States Congress dedicated to advancing legislative priorities affecting African Americans and other marginalized communities.

2013–Present

Black Lives Matter

A global movement founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in response to racial violence, advocating for an end to systemic racism and police brutality against Black people.