The civil rights movement was arguably the most important reform in American history This book recounts the extraordinary & often bloody story of how tens of thousands of ordinary African-Americans overcame long odds to dethrone segregation to exercise the right to vote & to improve their economic standing Organized in a clear chronological fashion the book shows how concerted pressure in a variety of forms ultimately carried the day in realizing a more just society for African- Americans It will provide students of American history with an invaluable comprehensive introduction to the Civil Rights Movement