Civil rights movement in the US (1954 – 1968) refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against Afro-Americans. Led by Martin Luther King Jr, this movement practised non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices. Afro-American, Black American or Black are the terms used to refer mainly to the descendants of Africans, who were brought into America as slaves between the 17th century and early 19th century. The Black power movement emerged in 1966 and lasted till 1975, which was a more militant, anti-racist movement, advocating even violence, if necessary, to end racism in the U.S.