The central focus of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s was the quest for racial equality and the end of racial segregation in the United States. Activists sought to dismantle systemic discrimination against African Americans and secure equal rights under the law. Key events included the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Freedom Rides. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks emerged, advocating for nonviolent protest and civil disobedience. The movement aimed to address injustices in education, employment, and voting rights, culminating in significant legislative changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.