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Brown V Board of Education
NAACP had combined 5 cases into 1 for Supreme Court. Oliver Brown’s daughter, Linda Brown, was rejected from the public school for being black. Linda was forced to attend a school 2 hours away. On May 16, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled on Brown’s side, stating that "separating children in public on the basis of race was unconstitutional". -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett, an African American, was accused of whistling at white woman. 3 days later, Ray Bryant and others, kidnapped Emmett. His eyes were detached and ears were cut off. Barbed wire was wrapped around his neck and weighted down by a 75 pound metal fan in the water. His tragic death gave light to an upsurge in the Civil Rights movement. -
Rosa Parks & The Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks, an African American woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white individual. She was fined $10 for refusing. Martin Luther King Jr. and other church individuals sent out flyers to boycott the bus system. On December 5th, all the buses in Montgomery, Alabama, go empty for 381 days. Supreme Court rules buses must let blacks ride equally. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
SCLC was a conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, that was organized by Martin Luther King Jr. The conference had a goal to promote race-related issues going on in the African American community. On top of this, organizing actions of local protests groups focused on nonviolence protests. -
Little Rock 9
Nine African American students wanted to go to their local white school. All nine students walk towards the school, while a crowd protest against these black students attending a white school. The governor of Arkansas called out the national guard to stop them. Luckily, President Eisenhower calls in 1200 military men to escort these students from home to class. These nine students become the first African Americans to attend Little Rock Central High School. -
Greensboro Sit In
Greensboro Sit In started as a small civil right protest that quickly grew in size. Four African American students walk into the food counter inside Woolworth in Greensboro, North Carolina, only to be denied service. The college students quickly protest the denial of service and lead a non-violent protest inside the Woolworth store. -
Freedom Riders
The freedom riders were a group of civil right activists, mostly college students, on the mission to promote civil rights. After the freedom riders arrived in Anniston, Alabama, on the 'Greyhound' bus, a mob threw a bomb into the bus. The bus burst into flames and tires blew out. The Freedom Riders got out, only to be beaten by the mob that had followed them. -
March On Washington
250,000 people marched in Washington DC. It was a peaceful and respectful protest for jobs and freedom. MLK gave the "I have a dream" speech here. The MLK speech is the most known speech that has come from here. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
President Lyndon B Johnson signed a law that prohibited racial discrimination. Not only discrimination but also segregation based on color, religion, or any nationality. These prohibits were focused on when hiring, firing, or requesting services. This opened new opportunities for African Americans facing discrimination. -
Voting Rights Act (1965)
In 1965, President Lyndon B signed a bill the focused on removing restrictions based on race. This became a safeguard right for African Americans and other minorities. Many protests had been done to receive this right. People believed this was a civil right for all. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches (Bloody Sunday)
The Selma to Montgomery Marches were three marches with the goal of protesting against the restriction of Black American rights to vote. Not only to draw a line against voting rights, but drawing a line against racism towards African Americans as a whole. They were constantly being segregated and beaten. During the march, the Alabama state troopers brutally beat Amelia Robinson. This captures the massive struggle against voting rights and racism. -
Assassination of Malcom X
Malcolm was a member of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm believed the Nation of Islam had corrupt and rigid teachings. He left the Nation of Islam and joined what he believed was 'true' Islam, Sunni Islam. He spoke against the teachings of the Nation of Islam's former leader, Elijah Muhammed. Thomas Hagan shot Malcolm in the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, NY. During the shooting, two other men had gone around to shoot Malcolm again. He was fatally wounded and was sadly pronounced dead shortly after. -
Assassination of MLK
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The assassination took place in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Lorraine Motel. James Earl Ray fired a shot at Martin, which led to the death of the civil right movement leader.