Civil Rights Movement Vocabulary

noun a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa.

• The apartheid system in South Africa was a government policy of segregation and discrimination based on race.
• Many people suffered under the apartheid regime in South Africa.
• Apartheid was a messed up way of treating people.
• The strict rules at the office felt like a form of mental apartheid.

adjective describing the state of having color, typically used to refer to something other than black or white

• The artist used a variety of colored pencils to create a vibrant masterpiece.
• I love wearing colored socks to add a pop of fun to my outfit.
• Her hair was dyed a bright colored pink that really stood out.
• The team's performance was lackluster, like a colored painting missing its bold strokes.

verb to deprive of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote

• The new voting law could disenfranchise many minority voters.
• The new rule might disenfranchise a lot of people from voting.
• The new policy is going to strip away voting rights from many folks.
• The decision to close polling stations will disenfranchise entire communities.

noun the action of striking or protesting by standing outside a place of work or other venue

verb to engage in the action of striking or protesting by standing outside a place of work or other venue

• The union members were picketing outside the factory in protest of the unfair working conditions.
• The workers were picketing outside the office, demanding better pay and benefits.
• We're picketing the store because they messed up our orders one too many times.
• The activists were picketing against government corruption, shining a light on the issues at hand.

noun a belief or policy that promotes equality and non-discrimination regardless of race or ethnicity

• Nonracialism is a key principle in our organization's policy against discrimination based on race.
• Nonracialism promotes equality among all races and backgrounds.
• We're all about that nonracialism vibe here, treating everyone the same regardless of race.
• In a world of nonracialism, skin color holds no power in determining one's worth.

noun a person who campaigns for some kind of social change or political reform

• The activists organized a peaceful protest to raise awareness about climate change.
• The activists are planning a rally downtown next week.
• Those activists are really woke, they're always fighting for a cause.
• The activists were like a beacon of hope in a sea of apathy.

noun Aframerican refers to a person of African American descent, combining the words African and American.

adjective Aframerican can also be used as an adjective to describe something related to African American culture or heritage.

• The Aframerican community has made significant contributions to American culture.
• I have a few Aframerican friends who are really into jazz music.
• Some people still use outdated slang terms to refer to Aframericans, which is not acceptable.
• The roots of Aframerican history run deep in the fabric of the United States.

noun a person of African descent living in America

adjective relating to or characteristic of Americans of African descent

• The African-American community has made significant contributions to American culture.
• My best friend is African-American and we love trying out different cuisines together.
• Did you see that new movie with the African-American lead actor? It's getting great reviews.
• The history of African-American struggle for civil rights is a powerful reminder of the importance of equality.

noun African Methodist Episcopal

• The African Methodist Episcopal church was founded in Philadelphia in the late 18th century.
• My grandma goes to the African Methodist Episcopal church every Sunday.
• I heard the African Methodist Episcopal church down the street has a great choir.
• The principles of the African Methodist Episcopal church are deeply rooted in social justice and equality.