Civil rights
The rights of citizens to vote, to receive equal treatment
Suspect classifications
Classifications of people on the basis of their race and ethnicity
Jim Crow
A slang expression for African Americans that emerged in the 1830s and came to signify the laws and governmental practices designed to segregate blacks from whites
Separate but equal doctrine
The doctrine established in plessy v ferguson in which the Supreme Court ruled that a state could provide separate but equal facilities for African americans
De jure segregation
Racial segregation that occurs because of laws or administrative decisions by public agencies
De facto segregation
Racial segregation in schools that occurs not because of laws or administrative decisions but as a result of patterns of residential settlement
Nonviolent civil disobedience
A philosophy of opposing a law one considers unjust by peacefully violating it and allowing oneself to be punished as a result
Strict scrutiny
The standard by which the Supreme Court judges classifications based on race
Affirmative action
The requirement, imposed by law or administrative regulation, than an organization take positive steps to increase the number or proportion of women
Reverse discrimination
Using race or sex to give preferential treatment to some people
Equality of opportunity
A view that it is wrong to use race or sex either to discriminate against or give preferential treatment to minorities or women
Compensatory action
An action designed to help members if disadvantaged groups, especially minorities and women