The American Civil Rights Movement was a complex and multifaceted movement, but some of the most important leaders include:

• Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968): King was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist who became the most visible leader of the movement. He was known for his eloquence and his commitment to nonviolent resistance.

Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader

• Rosa Parks (1913-2005): Parks was a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for over a year and helped to galvanize the Civil Rights Movement.

Rosa Parks, American civil rights activist

• A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979): Randolph was a labor union leader and civil rights activist. He was the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first major labor union for African Americans. Randolph was also a key organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

A. Philip Randolph, American civil rights leader

• Malcolm X (1925-1965): Malcolm X was a Muslim minister and civil rights activist. He was a vocal critic of racism and segregation. He was also a proponent of black separatism and self-defense.

Malcolm X, American civil rights leader

• Medgar Evers (1925-1963): Evers was a field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi. He was a tireless advocate for civil rights and worked to register African Americans to vote. Evers was assassinated in 1963 by a white supremacist.

Medgar Evers, American civil rights leader

• Sonia Sotomayor (born 1954): Sotomayor is a Supreme Court Justice and the first Latina to serve on the Court. She is a former judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Sotomayor is a strong advocate for civil rights and has spoken out against discrimination.

Sonia Sotomayor, American Supreme Court Justice

These are just a few of the many leaders who played a role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Their courage and determination helped to bring about significant changes in American society.

Other important leaders of the Civil Rights Movement include:

• Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993): Marshall was a lawyer and civil rights activist. He argued the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine. Marshall was later appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first African American justice.

Thurgood Marshall, American civil rights leader

• James Bevel (1936-2008): Bevel was a minister and civil rights activist. He was a key organizer of the Freedom Rides and the Selma to Montgomery marches. Bevel was also a proponent of nonviolent direct action.

James Bevel, American civil rights leader

• John Lewis (born 1940): Lewis is a civil rights leader and politician. He was a Freedom Rider and a leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Lewis was also a speaker at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

John Lewis, American civil rights leader

• Ella Baker (1903-1986): Baker was a civil rights activist and community organizer. She was a mentor to many of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Baker was a strong advocate for grassroots organizing and participatory democracy.

Ella Baker, American civil rights leader

The leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement made significant contributions to the fight for equality and justice. Their legacy continues to inspire people around the world.