Unit overview

January 31, 2001
Web posted at: 2:27 PM EST (1927 GMT)

"What happened in civil rights meetings around the country in the 1960s?"

"Who are the prominent African-American leaders, scientists, doctors, politicians?"

"How is activism in civil rights being conducted today?"

Most people, when asked about the civil rights movement in America during the 1950s and 1960s, think of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. And while he was the leading spokesman of the movement, countless other leaders and people involved at the grassroots level were essential to bringing the issue to the forefront in the United States and to the world, affecting monumental social and economic policies and legislation.

The efforts of these men and women have allowed African-Americans equal opportunities to work and receive recognition for their countless contributions in the fields of law, science, politics, sports, medicine, entertainment and other areas.

Throughout February, CNNfyi.com will present special reports entitled Chasing the Dream: Exploring Black History. The Web special will include lessons, news stories, a photo gallery, interactive activities, a glossary and, of course, our live events. CNNfyi.com also will host a special webcast February 22. Through live webcasts and moderated discussions with nationally renowned experts, you'll find out about:

Current and future leaders

To make the Chasing the Dream learning adventure more useful, CNNfyi.com will archive the video and moderated discussion questions and answers about two to three weeks after the live event.

Bookmark this page and check the site often for added materials and information.