We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. . . .
Welcome to 1954 Jim Crow America. The era of dreams and freedom, of protest and rebellion, is also the time of lynching and bigotry, of intolerance and brutality. Your characters, regardless of how you develop them, all share some common traits and experiences as black citizens of the United States. Whether they choose to participate or not, they cannot escape the impact of the events of the Civil Rights era. Despite these commonalities, all will experience different aspects of American life and policy based on the decisions you make ... and fate. Some of you will ride, some of you will walk, others will fight. Ultimately you will create, with stunning historical accuracy, a fictitious depiction of the civil rights era in American history.
Photographs from Robert Frank, The Americans