Black Americans and their allies have sought to use the U.S. court system as a tool in their fight for civil rights, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. However, certain court decisions, especially those handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court, have led to real change. This comprehensive look at landmark civil rights cases gives readers an understanding of the evolution of the civil rights movement through the lens of legal battles. The detailed sidebars, historical and contemporary images, and annotated quotes also give them the tools to understand the complex issues that are still in the headlines today.