The American Civil Rights Movement is widely considered to have started in the mid-1950s, with crucial events marking its rise. The year 1954 is often cited, especially after the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared the segregation of public schools unconstitutional. This decision galvanized activists and set the stage for a broader fight against racial discrimination and injustice. Key figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X emerged during this period, leading protests, boycotts, and marches aimed at achieving civil rights for African Americans and challenging systemic racism in the United States.