The Civil Rights Movement Revisited

Book excerpt: " The crusade for civil rights was a defining episode of 20th century U.S. history, reshaping the constitutional, political, social, and economic life of the nation. This collection of original essays by both European and American scholars includes close analyses of literature and film, historical studies of significant themes and events from the turn-of-the century to the movement years, and assessments of the movement's legacies. Ultimately, the articles help examine the ways civil rights activism, often grounded in the political work of women, has shaped American consciousness and culture until the outset of the 21st century. Patrick Miller is Professor of History at North Eastern Illinois University, Chicago, Ill., USA. Elisabeth Schaefer-Wuensche teaches American Studies at the University of Duesseldorf, Germany. Therese Steffen is Professor of English at the University of Basel, Switzerland. "