ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Civil rights in the United States

Okay kiddo, so civil rights are like rules that say everyone should be treated equally no matter what they look like, where they come from, or what they believe in. It's like when your teacher in school makes sure that nobody is left out of a game or gets bullied, that's also about civil rights.

A long time ago in the United States, some people were treated unfairly because of the color of their skin. They had to sit in the back of the bus, drink from different water fountains, and weren't even allowed to vote in elections. This wasn't fair, so many people stood up and fought for their rights.

The most famous person who fought for civil rights was Martin Luther King Jr. He gave speeches and marched peacefully to show that everyone should be treated equally. He wanted all children, no matter their race, to be able to play together and go to the same school.

In 1964, the government made a special law called the Civil Rights Act. This law made it illegal to discriminate against people because of their race or skin color. It also gave everyone the right to vote, no matter their color or gender.

Since then, there have been many other laws and changes to make sure that everyone is treated equally. It's important to remember that we all have the same rights, and we should respect and care for each other no matter our differences.