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Brown v. Board of Education
Declared racial segregation as unconstitutional in public schools. Overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v Ferguson. -
Murder of Emmett Till
He was accused of whistling at a white women. Three days later, Roy and Cardyn Bryant kidnapped and bar wire wrapped his neck where he was tortured and then thrown into water. -
Rosa Parks/ Bus Boycott
Rosa parks was arrested for falling to more seats on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. She is fined $10. MLK Jr and the church then later sends out flyers to boycott the bus system on December 5th. The buses remain empty for 381 days. The Supreme Court later on ruled buses had to let blacks ride. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Meeting of black church pastors to coordinate events for black people. MLK was elected the first president. This group used a nonviolently strategy. This group also registered blacks to vote, opposed Vietnam war and provided better jobs for blacks. -
Little Rock 9
9 students wanted to go to the white school. The governor of Arkansas called out the National guard to stop them. President Eisenhower calls in 1,200 military men to escort these students from home to class. 1959 all schools fully integrated. -
Greensboro Sit ins
Went to Wordsworth’s buy items. They went to sit at the lunch counter. They were refused service and told to leave, but they stayed. Day after day they came back and did the same thing. The amount of students grew after the day to 1,000. -
Freedom Riders
Diverse group of volunteers from 39 states, most were college students. Armed in Anniston, Alabama blocked by KKK. Tires slashed, fire bombed, buses banned and beatings, town after town. -
March on Washington
250,000 marched to Michigan for a peaceful and respectful protest for jobs and freedom. MLK gave his “I have a dream” speech. He was the last speaker of the day -
Civil rights act
Enabled the federal Government to prevent facial discrimination segregation based on race, color, religion or national origin in private businesses or public facilities -
Assassination of Malcolm X
civil rights leader, who was part of the Nation of Islam. He wanted black people to believe in themselves and start their own businesses, he was shot 21 times, Thomas Hagan convicted of killing. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches (Bloody Sunday)
Black marchers wanted to walk 54 miles to Montgomery to register to vote. At the Edmond Bridge troopers brutally beat them. -
Voting rights act
Ending the right to vote of African Americans any discrimination in voting. Now a federal matter not state -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
Striking sanitation workers protest in Memphis. Went back to the motel. Shot lower right side of his face, with Remington rifle. James Early Ray sentenced to 10 yrs. His death marks the end of the civil rights movement.