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Brown v. Board of Education
Oliver Browns daughter had to drive 2 hours to school. This happened in Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia and District of Columbia. NAACP takes 5 cases to the Supreme Court. The courts ruled 9-0 to overturn the doctrine of separate but equal. Most blacks still didn’t attend school for another 10 years. -
Murder of Emmett Till
In Mississippi Emmett whistled at the lady behind the counter of the store. Three days later Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured and killed by Roy and Cardyn Bryant. They then wrapped barded wire around his neck connected to a 75 pound Cotten gin fan. His mother had an open casket funeral to show the world what happened to her son. 50,000 people came to pay their respects. Roy and Cardyn Bryant were found not guilty. -
Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott
In December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa parks was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white man. She is then fined $10. Martin Luther king and the church send out flyers calling to boycott the Bus system. On December 5 the buses ran empty for 381 days. The Supreme Court Ruled buses had to let blacks ride buses. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
On January 10-11 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther king and 60 pastor’s organization a meeting of black church pastors to coordinate events for black people. Martin Luther king was elected the 1st president. This group used a nonviolent approach. This group also registered Blacks to vote, opposed the Vietnam war & better jobs for black people. -
Little Rock 9
In Little Rock, Arkansas, September 4, 1957, 9 black students wanted to go to the white school. The NAACP organized this event. The Governor called out the national guard to stop them. President Eisenhower called 1,200 military men to escort these students from home to class. In 1959 all schools fully integrated. -
Greensboro sit ins
In Greensboro, North Carolina February 1, 1960. 4 collage students go to Woodsworth to buy items. They then go sit at the lunch counter, which blacks were not allowed to do. They are refused service and told to leave. They stayed, day after day they continued to come back. The amount of students grew to 1,000. -
Freedom Riders
On May 1, 1961, 436 individuals in 60 separate buses went from Washington, D.C. to the Deep South. It’s was a diverse group of volunteers from 39 states. Most of them were collage students. They arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina. The KKK blocked them, the tires on the bus was slashed. The buses were then lite on fire. The riders were beaten, this happened from town to town. -
March on Washington
In Washington D.C 250,000 people marched in D.C. it was a peaceful and respectful march for freedom and jobs. One of the largest gatherings in u.s history. Martin Luther king Jr gave his famous I have a dream speech. MLK was the last speaker for the day. -
Civil rights act
Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther king pass the civil rights act. This enabled the federal government to prevent racial discrimination & segregation based on race, color, religion or national origin. This applied to private business or public facilities. -
Assassination of Malcom X
Malcom X was assassinated in the Audubon Ballroom in New York. He was a civil rights leader who was part of the Nation of Islam. He wanted black people to believe in themselves & to start their own businesses. He was shot 21 times. Thomas Hagan was convicted of the killing. -
Selma to Montgomery marches (Bloody Sunday)
In Selma, Alabama 600 people march 54 miles to Montgomery. They do this to register to vote. At the other side of the Edmond bridge trooper’s brutally beat them. -
Voting Rights Act
LBJ passed the Voting rights act of 1965. This enabled African American to vote without discrimination. This was now a federal matter not a state matter. -
Assassination of Martin Luther king
Sanitation workers were on strike in Memphis, Tennessee. After the protests MLK went back to the Lorraine Motel. MLK was on a balcony talking to someone down below, when he was shot in the face with a Remington Rifle. The bullet hit his lower right side. James Earl Ray was found guilty and sentenced to 99 years in prison. His death marked the end of the civil rights movement.