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Period: to
1950's
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Emmett Till’s murder
Emmett Till’s murder was a gruesome hate crime that shocked the nation and became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. His mother’s decision to have an open-casket funeral sparked outrage and brought attention to the brutality of racism in America. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a seminal event in the fight for civil rights. Led by figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, the boycott lasted for over a year and helped to end segregation on buses. -
Little Rock Nine Crisis
The Little Rock Nine Crisis was a pivotal moment in the fight for school integration. The nine African American students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 faced intense harassment and violence, but their bravery helped to pave the way for future desegregation efforts. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first major civil rights legislation passed by Congress since Reconstruction. While it was a relatively weak bill, it represented an important step forward in the fight for racial equality. -
Period: to
1960's
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Greensboro Sit-In
In 1960, four black students staged a sit-in protest at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their peaceful demonstration inspired similar protests across the country and helped to spark a larger movement for desegregation. -
The Albany Campaign
The Albany Campaign was a series of protests and demonstrations in Georgia in the early 1960s. Despite some gains, the campaign ultimately failed to achieve its goals due to infighting among civil rights leaders and strong resistance from local authorities -
The Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides were a series of bus trips through the South in 1961, led by civil rights activists seeking to challenge segregation on interstate buses. The rides were met with violent resistance from white supremacists, but helped to bring attention to the issue of segregation in public transportation. -
Integration of the University of Mississippi:
In 1962, federal troops had to be sent to the University of Mississippi to enforce the integration of the institution, highlighting the challenges faced by Black students attempting to access higher education in the United States. -
Northern Violence over School Integration
Racism and violence against Black students attempted to integrate schools was not confined to the South, as seen in the violent protests over integration in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1974. -
The Birmingham Movement
The Birmingham Movement was a series of protests and boycotts in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. The use of nonviolent tactics, such as sit-ins and marches, brought national attention to the issue of segregation in the South and ultimately led to the desegregation of the city. -
Assassination of Medgar Evars
Civil rights leader Medgar Evars was shot and killed in his driveway on June 12, 1963, in Jackson, Mississippi, highlighting the dangers faced by activists working for racial equality in the United States. -
March on Washington for Jobs
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 was one of the largest civil rights protests in American history. The peaceful demonstration called for an end to segregation and discrimination, and culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. -
The Mississippi Freedom Summer
The Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964 was a voter registration drive and education campaign aimed at increasing African American political participation. It exposed the violent resistance of white supremacists and helped to pave the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X, a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam and an advocate for Black nationalism, was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while giving a speech in New York City. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and represented a significant step forward in the fight for equality. -
Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. US
The 1964 Supreme Court decision in Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. US upheld the Civil Rights Act and prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, marking a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement. -
The March from Selma to Montgomery
The March from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 was a series of marches and protests aimed at gaining voting rights for African Americans. The violent response of Alabama state troopers on the first march, known as Bloody Sunday, helped to galvanize support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a seminal piece of legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting and helped to end decades of voter suppression in the South. It represented a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and helped to ensure greater political participation for African Americans. -
James Meredith’s March Against Fear
In 1966, James Meredith, the first Black student to attend the University of Mississippi, organized a march against fear from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, highlighting the need for continued activism in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.: On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, sparking riots and mourning across the United States. -
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was a landmark piece of legislation that prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. It represented an important step forward in the fight for equal housing opportunities and helped to combat systemic discrimination in the housing market. -
Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign: In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman to run for president, highlighting issues of representation and discrimination faced by minority communities in the United States. -
Period: to
1970's
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Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
In 1971, the Supreme Court decision in Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools upheld the busing of students to integrate schools, leading to increased racial integration in schools across the United States. -
Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record
Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record: On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record, becoming a symbol of Black excellence and achievement in the face of widespread racism and discrimination. -
Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention
Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention: In 1976, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan delivered a powerful address at the Democratic National Convention, highlighting the need for racial and economic justice in the United States.