What roles and responsibilities did citizens have to take on in order to affect change? Which tactics were the most successful in affecting change? Why?

Boycotts, sit-ins, marches, and law suits were the most successful tactics that African Americans used to affect change. These tactics were based on nonviolent protests lead by nonviolent protest leaders.

March protest
The media during the Civil rights movement didn't always broad cast important news of the mistreatment of African Americans. The news was mainly controlled by white people that were racist against African Americans. The marches were a way of bringing important things to light that many people did not know about. 

Bus Boycott
When African Americans stopped riding buses it hurt the bus company's  business. The company's would lose their business or get rid of segregation on their buses, in the end they ended segregation. 

Sit-in protest

African Americans were not allowed to eat at restaurant counters. They fought this segregation by sitting in a place they were not allowed to.