The extension of civil rights today means not protection of the people against the government, but protection of the people by the government…. We just make the federal government a friendly, vigilant defender of the rights and equalities of all Americans. And again I mean all Americans.
-- President Harry Truman (Chapter 1 paragraph Page 22)

Importance: President Harry Truman was one of the first influential people to speak out about racism and acknowledging the government’s role in achieving equality.

What the people of this country must realize is that the white race is a superior race, and the Negro race is an inferior race.
-- Senator Eastland (Chapter 1 paragraph Page 26)

Importance: This quote captures what activists were up against. When a U.S. senator expresses such a racist sentiment it was obvious in the early days of the fight for civil rights would not be an easy one.

Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children...
-- Kansas High Court (Chapter 2 paragraph Page 54)