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Plessy v. Ferguson
A supreme Court ruling that states that racial segregation was constitutional by state government laws. This affected African Americans negatively as "separate but equal" ideas were legal in southern states. This justified racial segregation in the south and promoted the Jim Crow laws -
Brown V. Board of Education
Another supreme court ruling that ruled that public schools of Topeka, Kansas could not segregate. This ultimately overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling of "separate but equal." This was a crucial event for the civil rights movement as it lead the way for desegregation. -
Murder of Emmett Till
14 year old Emmett Till was shot and murdered. J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant murdered Emmett Till because of an alleged gesture towards a white woman. This trial caused attraction to the public on behalf of the trial and it raised questions on equality in american society. -
Rosa Parks & The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white passenger which was a form of resistance to southern customs. This then lead to a boycott on buses which was over a year span. The boycott served to desegregate buses later on after the boycott in 1956. -
Founding of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) & MLK
The SCLC was founded by Rev. Martin Luther King, Charles K. Steele and Fred L. Shuttlesworth. The goal of this organization was to organize the civil rights movement and promote non-violence. This acquired attention to the civil rights movement and by following civil disobedience, it led to a good image for African Americans and their movement. -
Little Rock Nine & Central High School
9 students were blocked from entering Central High School because of their race. More than 1000 white people blocked the way in the school which caused the police to escort the nine kids to the door. The significance of this event turned out to be a challenge on segregation in public schools and the importance on how President Eisenhower sent troops to escort them as well. -
Greensboro Sit-in
Four black students began a sit-in at a Greensboro lunch counter. They were not offered service because of their race but were allowed to stay. This, in reality, triggered this type of civil disobedience which were very effective in the South. -
Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Freedom summer
The SNCC was an organization that provided a place for young African Americans. It was created on campus of Shaw University for the civil rights movement. This resulted in coordinated sit-ins and support for civil rights leaders for an effective approach on equality. -
Freedom Ride/ Freedom Riders
The Congress of Racial Equality organized the Freedom Riders to challenged the new interstate commerce commissions and laws. The Freedom Riders were beaten by mobs because of segregation in transportation and buses. This ultimately led to the awareness and desegregation of public transportation. -
March on Washington
Martin Luther King Jr. was accompanied by 250,000 people in the March of Washington. The people listened to MLK in front of the Lincoln memorial. MLK delivered his speech " I Have A Dream" and ultimately led to the civil rights Act of 1964. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
President Johnson signed the Civil rights Act of 1964 which prohibited to discriminate anyone based on race, color, religion or national origin. Also, the Jim Crow laws in the south were abolished. This was a great success to the Civil Rights Act and was a huge step to the Civil Rights Movement. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X, a black nationalist leader, was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. He advocated for equality "by any means necessary" and was inspired by the teaching of the Islam. The significance of this event played a role on the dispute between him and the nation of Islam that caused his death but he ultimately led a fight for Black equality. (Black Panthers) -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The voting rights act of 1965 facilitated the process for southern blacks to register for voting. It also made literacy tests, poll taxes and other restrictions illegal. This changed and expanded the rights for African Americans and led to equality in America. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Rev Martin Luther king Jr. was shot in the balcony of his hotel. The murderer was a committed racist with the name James Earl ray. Cities were enraged in this murder and called for a stop to violence for the unrest of the people. This led to a memorial of a leader of the civil rights and became widely known for his works in the name for Equality.
