This list contains the names of notable civil rights activists who were active during the 19th century. Although not often highlighted in American history, before Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....

 changed America when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama city bus in December 1955, 19th century African-American civil rights activists worked strenuously from the 1850s until the 1880s for the cause of equal treatment in public transportation.

Activists

• Katherine "Kate" Brown
  Kate Brown (19th-Century African-American rights activist)
  Katherine "Kate" Brown was an employee of the United States Senate and African American civil rights activist.In February 1868, Kate Brown boarded a train to travel from Alexandria, Virginia to Washington, D.C. She entered “what they call the ‘white people’s car.’” As she was boarding, a...
  
  
• Norris Wright Cuney
  Norris Wright Cuney
  Norris Wright Cuney, or simply Wright Cuney, was an American politician, union leader, and African American activist in Texas in the United States. He became active in Galveston politics serving as an alderman and a national Republican delegate...
  
  
• Robert Fox
• Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jennings
• Sallie Robinson
  Sallie Robinson
  Sallie Robinson , a nineteenth century African American civil rights activist.On the evening of May 22, 1879, Sallie Robinson, a 28 year-old black woman, bought two first-class tickets at Grand Junction, Tennessee, for a train trip to Lynchburg, Virginia...