-
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, civil rights organization. Goal to advance justice for African Americans.
-
Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.
-
In Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person. This led to many boycotts.
-
Boycott (sparked by Rosa Parks) that lasted for 13 months. African Americans refused to use public transportation and instead walked by foot, carpool, or bike to their work no matter the distance.
-
The Supreme Court ruled that segregated busing was unconstitutional, and the bus boycott ended.
-
In Little Rock, Arkansas, nine African American students tried to enter Central High and were stopped by the National Guard. President Eisenhower had to send in troops to enforce the Brown decision.
-
Students organized freedom rides to protest segregation on the interstate transportation system. Activists rode buses into the segregated southern United States to challenge the non-enforcement decisions that ruled that segregated public buses were unconstitutional.
-
Air Force veteran James Meredith tried to enroll at the all-white University of Mississippi and caused controversy. This created a stand-off between the federal and state government and many riots.
-
After the protest in Birmingham, Alabama - the most prominent segregated city in the US during the time - protester including MLK was arrested. During his custody in the Birmingham jail, he wrote this letter to anti-segregationist in regards to the civil right movement. From this, he wrote the famous quote,
" Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -
In July, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law. It banned segregation in public accommodations, gave government the power to desegregate schools, outlawed discrimination in employment, established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and more.
-
Playwright Charles Gordon wins the Pulitzers Prize. He was the first African American to hold such award.
-
Andrew Young is the first African American to become a U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
-
Robert L. Johnson launched Black Entertainment Television (BET). The network was made solely African Americans.
-
Bryant Gumbel becomes first African American to anchor on a major network show. He joined The Today Show
-
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday becomes a federal national holiday. Ronald Reagan signed the bill for this new holiday.
-
The Cosby Show debuts on NBC. Becomes the most successful show with an African American cast in TV history.
-
Art Shell becomes the first African American to coach in the NFL. He coached for the Oakland Raiders.
-
Rodney King was beaten by police on video. Three cops were tried for the beating
-
Serena Williams wins the U.S. Open. She is the first African American woman to do so in fifty years.
-
Barack Obama becomes the first African American to win the U.S. presidential election
