Lubertha Johnson
Gov. Grant Sawyer
University of Nevada
Oral History Program
Mail Stop 324
Reno, NV 89557-0099
775/784-6932
Fax: 775/784-1365
E-mail: ohp@unr.nevada.edu
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Room 109 of the Mack Social Science Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus
Civil Rights During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the situation in Nevada reflected, to a certain extent, what was going on in the rest of the country. Referred to by some as the "Mississippi of the West," the state experienced its own growing pains during that era, with boycotts (actual or threatened), protests, the forming of organizations, and lawsuits. While there were civil rights proponents in other parts of Nevada, much of this activity took place in the southern part of the state, where a strong NAACP chapter and equally strong leaders worked to desegregate many aspects of life, from housing and employment to education. They were assisted in large part by Governor Grant Sawyer, who used his power and influence to push the cause of civil rights at the state level between 1959 and 1965. Topics addressed in this module include: The Experiences of Black Entertainers Segregated Education Housing and Employment Opportunities Civil Rights Legislation The Moulin Rouge Agreement (which desegregated the Las Vegas Strip) Organizations Involved in Nevada's Civil Rights Movement |