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Brown v. Board of Education
Segregation between blacks and whites in public schools was found to be unconstitutional. The unanimous decision said that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This marked the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement because segregation was made unconstitutional, one step closer towards equality. -
Nondiscrimination Policy in Federal Employement
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10590, providing racial equality for hiring in federal positions. All departments and agencies in the executive branch of the government needed to follow this order. This policy allowed for blacks to hold federal positions in the government. -
Browder v. Gayle Case
The Browder v. Gayle Case ended laws concerning bus segregation in Alabama. Busing seats were no longer regulated or reserved for particular races. This was one step closer to ending "Jim Crow" laws in regards to busing. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference Formed
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is formed and has Martin Luther King Jr. as its chairman. This group is a major influence in the civil rights movement for African Americans. The group was put together after the success of the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Bethel Baptist Church Bombing
The Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed, killing four young black girls. The bombing was done by member in the Klu Klux Klan, a violent white-supremacist group resisting the civil rights movement. The KKK members got away with the crime due to the racist police force in Birmingham lead by the infamous Bull Conner. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks about School Segregation
Martin Luther King Jr. speaks and marches for the integration of schools. 26,000 black students listened to him speak while 10,000 marched with him. This was to show support for the 1954 Supreme Court decision to end segregation in public schools. -
Beginning of Sit-Ins
Four black students sit at the lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. This started a trend of blacks sitting at white lunch counters that lasted approximately six months. -
MLK Arrested
Martin Luther King Jr. is arrested in Albany Georgia for obstructing the sidewalk and parading without a permit. This enrages people because MLK was marching for civil rights and equality. People are now more encouraged to stand up for themselves and other blacks being oppressed. -
Unconstitutional Travel
Any form of transportation that is segregated is declared unconstitutional. This was decided by the Supreme Court and it built upon similar Supreme Court decisions mentioned earlier in the timeline. -
Discussion with Attorney General
Robert F. Kennedy discusses with a group of black civil rights leaders about the relations between blacks and whites. After the discussion, it seemed as if Robert F. Kennedy wasn't aware of the extent of racism in the United States. This allowed for a change in Kennedy's view of race relations; he was more understanding and wanted equality. -
Nobel Peace Prize
Martin Luther King Jr. is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a civil rights activist. He was the youngest person ever awarded the prize. -
Third Successful March from Selma to Montgomery
The first steps of the successful march were taken this day. After two unsuccessful attempts, MLK finally leads his group of supporters from the city of Selma to the city of Montgomery. -
Black Panther Party Founded
Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was founded to defend blacks from police brutality. The group has ideologies opposing racism and supporting black culture and lifestyle, -
Loving v. Virginia Case
This Supreme Court Case gets rid of rules prohibiting interracial marriage. Any such rule is considered unconstitutional. This case emphasizes the progress made throughout the civil rights movement, now blacks and whites are able to marry one another. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is signed, banning discrimination in regards to housing. No longer could the color of your skin decide where you live, where you rent from, or how you finance your house. This act forced integration among blacks and whites because no longer could realtors refuse to sell houses to blacks.
