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Plessy V. Ferguson
This supreme court case sparked from an 1892 event in which African-American train passenger, Homer Plessy, refused to sit in a car for blacks. Rejecting Plessy’s argument that his constitutional rights were violated. This was a supreme court case that ruled a system where whites and African Americans are physically separate from each other but equal through daily activities. This case was significant because it established a step towards equality by taking government action. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This supreme court case sparked when an African American girl named Linda Brown, had been opposed to going to an all-white school in Topeka, Kansas, due to the color of her skin. This case stated that racial segregation in public educational facilities is unconstitutional This was significant because it overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson case which was separate but equal qualities into a step where african american people and whites can be integrated. -
Murder of Emmett Till
This horrific event all started when fourteen-year-old, Emmet Tillet, was accused of whistling at a white woman in Mississippi in 1955. After he went back home with his uncle, the white women told her husband on what he did supposedly and then her husband and brother went to go track the innocent boy to torture and kill him. This event was significant in history because it proves that African Americans get treated horribly by society which sparks a motivation for civil rights activists. -
Rosa Parks & the Montgomery Bus Boycott
This event all started when Rosa Parks refused to get up out of her seat on a bus and this led to her being arrested. This resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott where African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama, to protest segregated seating. The significance of this event is that she inspired other leaders to take action towards their fighting for their civil rights without being physically violent. -
Little Rock Nine & Central High School
In 1957, nine bold African American students were the first to attend an all-white school. After Eisenhower responded to the governor of Arkansas tactics to block the entry of the school, he sent his own troops to escort the students which were highly treated horribly by the whites once they started to attend the school. This was significant because it was the first step where African Americans could come together as one and make society believe it is possible to be integrated. -
Founding of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) & Martin Luther King
This event sparked due to the success of the Montgomery bus boycott. It was led by Martin Luther King Jr. and provided a way to confront racism through nonviolent tactics. This was a significant event because Martin Luther King helped people become a unity in order to stand up for what they believe in towards their rights. -
Greensboro Sit-In
In 1960, many African Americans and some whites sat at diners in the white only section almost all day which was their way of protesting nonviolently. However, many protesters were physically violated and beaten up by many whites due them disliking the fact African Americans sat in the white section. This was significant because it proved the point that african americans deserve to have equal rights as whites especially when they are not causing any problems within the community. -
Freedom Ride/Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders were groups of white and African American civil rights activists who participated bus trips through the South in order to test the Supreme Court's ruling in Boynton v. Virginia, which made segregation in interstate bus and rail stations unlawful. However, most of these riders were violently threatened and physically hurted by the KKK. This event was significant because these activists helped inspired society that there should be a change toward civil rights. -
March on Washington
In 1963, this was a huge protest at the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King aimed to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans. He inspired many people once he stated his iconic speech " I Have a Dream". The march was significant because it inspired many African Americans to come united and it also led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) & Freedom Summer
The Student nonviolent coordinating committee consisted of young African Americans to take nonviolent and direct actions such as sit-ins and Marches. In addition, freedom summer aimed at increasing black voter registration in Mississippi. These events were significant because helped promote civil rights for African Americans and put harsh public attention on white racism in the South. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
This act was passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, or sex. It significanly helped people throughout society to recieve their rights taht they deserve. This was significant because it was one of the greatest achievements of the civil rights movement due to a major step towards equality within society. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
The death of Malcolm X of him being shot by members of the Nation of Islam which was led by Elijah Muhammad. Many believed he assasinated due to conflict between the nation of islam and him. This was a horrible event but many of his followers stuck with his beilefs in order to recieve rights they deserve. -
Voting Rights Act (1965)
This act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson which created the purpose to let all African Americans vote without any legal problems. In addition, this act lives up to the status of the 15th amendment. This event is majorly significant because it was a step towards equality due to African American legally receiving the right to vote which made them equal compared to whites. -
Assassination of MLK
Martin Luther King was a major key figure in the civil rights movement but was assassinated by James Earl Ray in Memphis. This led to a major amount of riots within the community after his death and soon people began to transition towards the black panther society. This was a significant event because it reflected that his tactics through the civil rights movement worked and brought the african american community together.
