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Jackie Robinson
In 1947 Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He faced many insults and threats because of his race. Instead of fighting physically he fought with courage and grace. Robinson handled the abuse and more which inspired a generation of African Americans to question the “separate but equal” and help pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Brown Vs. Board
This event broke the barrier for schools to integrate. People deemed this as unconstitutional, and fought for public schools to be equal. The law was "separate but equal", but this wasn't always the case. Black schools had less resources and sometimes rundown buildings. When this case was won it sparked many other ideas for equal opportunities. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks also was an eye opener for many people. On December 1, 1955 she came from work and rode the bus refusing to give up her seat to a white man. Parks was arrested, and this started an uproar. Blacks in Montgomery refused to ride the buses also known as the "bus boycott". This led the U.S Supreme Court to outlaw racial segregation on public buses in Alabama. -
SCLC
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC, had a large role in the American Civil Rights Movement. The focus is to educate youth and adults in the areas of personal responsibility, leadership potential, and community service; to ensure economic justice and civil rights and to help end racism wherever it exists. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine gifted African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957.They faced many mobs and hardships. The governor of Arkansas didn't allow them to enter the school, but under the presidents order they were allowed. This event was a sample of desegregation in public schools. -
SNCC
The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, was formed to give younger blacks more of a voice in the civil rights movement. -
Birmingham campaign
The Birmingham campaign, was a movement organized by the SCLC to bring attention to the integration efforts of African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama. -
March on Washington
More than 200,000 African Americans and more gathered in Washington D.C. for a march. This march targeted the struggles for freedom and jobs. This event was designed to shed light on many challenges blacks faced. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a Dream" speech. -
24th Amendment
Citizens had to pay a tax fee in some states to vote, but due to lack of money they couldn't have a say. This fee was called a poll tax. People pushed for this law to be changed, until one day the United States ratified the 24th Amendment to the Constitution, forbidding any poll tax in elections for federal officials. -
Civil rights Act of 1964
This ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It was proposed by President John F. Kennedy but was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Selma March
This march was led by MLK from Selma to Montgomery targeting their freedom. About 600 people marched to demand fairness in voter registration, but was met with state troopers who treated the demonstrators horrible. This caused people all around the country form 80 different cities to march. MLK led a peaceful march and congress responded to him by enacting the voting rights. -
Executive Order 11246
Executive Order 11246, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson established requirements for non-discriminatory practices in hiring and employment on the part of U.S. government contractors. -
Black Panthers
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The Panthers practiced militant self-defense of minority communities against the U.S. government, and fought to establish revolutionary socialism through mass organizing and community based programs -
Martin Luther King jr. Assasination
King was standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel, when a sniper’s bullet struck him in the neck. James Earl Ray, a small time murderer, was suspected in his murder. King was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, at the age of 39. Many African Americans were mad and sought violence, but that wasn't the way. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
The Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination targeting the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin and sex. It followed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the bill was a huge debate, but was passed quickly by the House of Representatives after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
