When Reconstruction ended in 1877, 90% of African Americans lived in the South. As white southerners regained political control in state and local governments, they passed new laws restricting African Americans. The new laws segregated Black and white people and condemned African Americans to an inferior and second-class citizenship. In response, African Americans created institutions that sustained their communities.

As the 20th century began, African Americans sought full citizenship and equal rights. But more severe segregation laws and social norms created hostile environments that sought to disturb or destroy Black communities. For African Americans, danger came in many forms: legal restrictions, threats, violence, lynchings, and mob-led riots.

Despite facing violence and discrimination, African Americans built their own communities and institutions. Many migrated to cities outside the South for better opportunities. They nourished a flourishing Black culture and served the country during both World Wars.

By the mid-1940s, many African Americans became increasingly vocal to protect and claim their civil rights. New economic and educational opportunities, including the G.I. Bill, decreased African American dependence on farming and sharecropping. Thousands of African Americans relocated to cities, where they enjoyed new freedoms. Many were willing to fight to preserve these new freedoms and demanded equality, even if it meant risking their own safety.