The unit provides an historical overview of black Americans' struggle for civil rights and explores current legislation and court decisions about civil rights. Among its objectives are to view the black American struggle for equality in the context of American history, highlight the major civil rights organizations in the black American struggle, and note possible future directions of the civil rights movement. One major section, written in narrative style, traces the struggle for civil rights from Colonial times through the Civil War, abolition of slavery, World Wars I and II, court decisions in the 1950s, the Black Muslim movement, and Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1964, and 1968. Another major section discusses court decisions concerning busing and racial integration in schools, availability of social services, discrimination in admission to institutions of higher education, and union membership. Analysis of the opinions of several contemporary writers shows that the courts have promoted greater equality of opportunity but that much more remains to be accomplished. Concluding sections present 38 activities and questions based on the previous sections, a list of 23 films, and a selected bibliography of over 50 books and articles. (AV)