African American Philosophy

First slave was brought to America

Dec 3, 1619

The first African slaves were brought to American colony, Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, this is an important event because it is the begining of a long history of slavery in America.

Vermont becomes the first state to abolish slavery

Jul 2, 1777

On July 2, 1777 Vermont is the first state in the US to outlaw slavery

Fugitive Slave Act

Dec 5, 1793

Congress passes Fugitive Slave Act, which makes it a crime to harbor an escaped slave. This was important because it was the first law passed to make it illeagal to aid a runaway slave.

American Civil War begins

Dec 3, 1861

Although the civil war was more about State power over federal power then the issue of slavery. The issue of slavery was still a major contributer to the start of the war. The war split families communities and the country in two,

Emancipation Proclamation

Dec 5, 1863

President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation legally frees all slaves in the Confederacy. This on papper ended all slavery in America.

Civil Rights Act

Dec 5, 1866

Congress passes the Civil Rights Act, which confers citizenship on African Americans and grants them equal rights with whites. This was important because there was no liggal obligation to for blacks to be treated the same.

NAACP

Dec 5, 1909

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded by a group of African American and white activists. This organization was huge in getting blacks thier equal rights in the civil rights era.

Rosa Parks

Dec 4, 1955

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to a white person, triggering a successful, year-long African American boycott of the bus system

segregation ruled unconstitutional

Dec 4, 1956

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the segregation of Montgomery, Ala., buses is unconstitutional. This was a huge step on having equal rights for all.

I have a dream speech

Dec 4, 1963

More than 200,000 people march on Washington, D.C., in the largest civil rights demonstration ever; Martin Luther King, Jr., gives his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Civil Rights Act

Dec 4, 1964

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act, which gives the federal government far-reaching powers to prosecute discrimination in employment, voting, and education.

first African American justice

Dec 4, 1966

Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American justice on the Supreme Court.

Martin Luther King, Jr., is assassinated

Dec 4, 1968

Martin Luther King, Jr., is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. His murder sparks a week of rioting across the country.

Thriller becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Dec 4, 1982

Singer Michael Jackson's album Thriller becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time. This was the first album creat by a black artist to be number one.

Tiger Woods

Dec 5, 1997

Tiger Woods becomes the first African American to win the Masters tournament, as well as the youngest golfer ever to do so.