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Jim Crow Laws
After the Civil War, laws called "Jim Crow laws" were created to keep Black and white people separate. These laws forced segregation in schools, buses, restaurants, and other public places. Black people were given fewer rights and treated unfairly. Signs reading "Whites Only" or "Colored" were common, and these laws lasted for over 100 years. -
14th Amendment
This amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave citizenship and equal protection under the law to all people born in the United States, including formerly enslaved people. It was meant to ensure fairness, but many states still created unfair laws to limit Black people's rights. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This Supreme Court case ruled that segregation was legal as long as Black and white people had "separate but equal" facilities. In reality, the facilities for Black people were much worse. This ruling allowed segregation to continue for decades until it was overturned in 1954. -
Double V campaign
During World War II, Black Americans fought for two victories: one against enemies abroad and one against racism at home. The "Double V" stood for victory over fascism in the war and victory over racial discrimination in the U.S. -
Double V Campaign
During World War II, Black Americans fought for two victories: one against enemies abroad and one against racism at home. The "Double V" stood for victory over fascism in the war and victory over racial discrimination in the U.S. -
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Before this, Black players were only allowed to play in separate leagues. Robinson faced racism from fans and other players but remained strong, breaking barriers in sports and inspiring the civil rights movement. -
Brown v. Board of education
In this Supreme Court case, the justices ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The court said that keeping Black and white students in separate schools was unfair and harmed Black children. This decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling and helped start the fight to end segregation in all areas of life. -
Emmett Till’s Murder
Emmett Till was a 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago who visited Mississippi. He was brutally murdered after allegedly whistling at a white woman. His killers were found not guilty, even though they later admitted to the crime. His mother had an open-casket funeral to show the world the brutality of racism. His death became a major turning point in the civil rights movement. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
This protest began when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus. Black citizens of Montgomery, Alabama, stopped riding the buses to demand equal rights. The boycott lasted over a year and ended when the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was illegal. It also helped Martin Luther King Jr. become a key leader in the civil rights movement. -
Broader v. Gayle
This federal court case ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
It came as a result of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and officially ended racial segregation in public transportation. -
Little Rock Nine
Nine Black students were chosen to attend an all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas, after segregation in schools was ruled illegal. They faced angry mobs and violence, and the governor even tried to stop them from entering. Eventually, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the students and enforce the law. -
The Sit-Ins
Black college students started peaceful protests by sitting at "whites-only" lunch counters and refusing to leave until they were served. These protests spread across the country, and many participants were arrested or attacked. The sit-ins were successful in ending segregation in many restaurants and public places. -
Freedom Rides
A group of Black and white activists, called Freedom Riders, rode buses together into the segregated South to challenge unfair laws. They faced violent attacks, but their courage brought national attention to segregation in transportation. Eventually, new laws were passed to end segregation on buses and in bus stations. -
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech
During the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous speech about his dream for racial equality and justice. He spoke in front of over 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial, calling for V and to racism and inspiring millions across the country. -
Civil Rights Act 1964
This law made segregation illegal in public places, including restaurants, schools, and businesses. It also made discrimination in hiring illegal, meaning people could not be denied jobs because of their race or skin color. This was one of the biggest victories of the civil rights movement. -
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States
A hotel owner in Atlanta refused to allow Black guests to stay at his motel and sued the government, arguing that the Civil Rights Act should not apply to private businesses. The Supreme Court ruled that businesses could not refuse service to customers based on race, helping to enforce civil rights laws. -
Voting Rights Act 1965
Even though Black people had the legal right to vote, many Southern states created unfair rules to stop them from voting, like literacy tests and poll taxes. This law made those practices illegal and ensured that all Black citizens could vote freely. -
Loving v. Virginia
Mildred and Richard Loving, a Black woman and a white man, were arrested for being married in Virginia, where interracial marriage was illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that banning interracial marriage was unconstitutional, making it legal for people of different races to marry anywhere in the U.S. -
Fair Housing Act
This law made it illegal to refuse to rent or sell homes to people because of their race. Many Black families had been denied housing in certain neighborhoods, but this law helped create fairer housing opportunities. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
This Supreme Court case dealt with affirmative action in college admissions. A white student, Allan Bakke, argued that he was denied admission to medical school because of racial quotas that gave spots to minority students. The court ruled that race could be considered in admissions but that strict quotas were not allowed.