Social Influence and Social Change

Lessons from Minority Influence

• Segregation in 1950s America: places such as schools and restaurants in Southern states were exclusive to whites. Civil rights marches drew attention to the situation by providing social proof of the problems.
• People took part in the marches on a large scale. Even though it was a minority of the American population they displayed consistency of message and intent.
• This attention meant that many people who had accepted the status quo began thinking about the unjustness of it.
• 'Freedom riders' were mixed racial groups who got on buses in the South to challenge separate seating for black people. Many were beaten and suffered mob violence.
• Civil rights activists gradually got the attention of the…