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Sweatt V. Painter
The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in higher education was unconstitutional when separate facilities were not equal. This decision challenged "separate but equal" policies previously established and paved the way for Brown v. Board of Education.
Category: Supreme Court Case -
Keys V. Carolina Coach
This case successfully challenged segregation in interstate bus travel. It led to the desegregation of interstate transportation under federal jurisdiction.
Category: Supreme Court Case -
Emmet Till's Murder
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old, was brutally murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman. His death propelled the Civil Rights Movement by exposing racial violence and injustice.
Category: Violence By Opposition -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Started by the arrest of Rosa Parks , the boycott protested segregation on Montgomery’s public buses. This year long protest highlighted the power of nonviolent protests.
Category: Protest -
Creation of the Montgomery Improvement Association
The "MIA" was created to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It became a model for organizing civil rights campaigns under Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership.
Category: Achievement -
Civil Right's Act
The first civil rights legislation since the Reconstruction era focused on voting rights. It established the Civil Rights Division within the Justice Department.
Category: Legislation -
Founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The SCLC helped to coordinate nonviolent protests all across the South. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., it was a crucial force in the Civil Rights Movement.
Category: Achievement -
Little Rock 9 Crisis
Nine Black students integrated into Central High School in Arkansas amid violent opposition. Federal intervention from U.S. marshalls ensured the enforcement of Brown v. Board of Education.
Category: Violence By Opposition -
Cooper V. Aaron
The Supreme Court ruled states must comply with federal court desegregation orders. This reaffirmed the authority of Brown v. Board of Education.
Category: Supreme Court Case -
Greensboro Sit In
Four Black students held a sit in at a segregated Woolworth’s counter (Dining establishment) in North Carolina. This simple act of nonviolent resistance inspired a wave of similar protests nationwide.
Category: Protest -
Integration of the University of Mississippi
James Meredith became the first Black student admitted into the University. Facing violent opposition, Federal officials ensured his enrollment and upheld desegregation laws.
Category: Violence From Opposition -
Albany Campagin
This civil rights campaign aimed to desegregate Albany, Georgia. It demonstrated the challenges of achieving broad success while staying nonviolent in civil rights activism.
Category: Protest -
Freedom Rides
Integrated groups rode buses to challenge segregation in Southern terminals. Many riders faced violence but stayed peaceful knowing they did no wrong due to Federal desegregation laws.
Category: Protest -
Birmingham Movement
This campaign against segregation in Birmingham Alabama aimed to use nonviolent tactics to protest segregation. Brutal police response to protesters drew national attention and support.
Category: Violence From Opposition -
Assassination of Medgar Evers
NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers was assassinated in Mississippi. His assassination highlighted the heavy risks faced by civil rights activists.
Category: Violence From Opposition -
March On Washington
Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., advocating for civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech before the Washington Memorial.
Category: Achievement -
Mississippi Freedom Summer
This voter registration drive fought to empower disenfranchised Black citizens in the South. It faced violent resistance, including the murder of three activists.
Category: Violence From Opposition -
Civil Rights Act Of 1964
This act outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, jobs, and education. It marked a major milestone in dismantling institutionalized segregation.
Category: Legislation -
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US
The Supreme Court upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It affirmed Congress's power to regulate private businesses under the Commerce Clause.
Category: Supreme Court Case -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X was assassinated while speaking in New York City. His death marked a turning point in the fight for Black empowerment and civil rights, making many take a more militant stance.
Category: Violence From Opposition -
March From Selma To Montgomery
These three marches advocated were advocating for more voting rights. The protesters were met with a violent response from State Troopers on "Bloody Sunday." It had a direct influence on the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Category: Protest -
Voting Rights Act Of 1965
This act outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests. It gave federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of discrimination.
Category: Legislation -
James Meredith’s March Against Fear
James Meredith’s march in Mississippi encouraged Black voter registration. It continued even after he was shot, symbolizing the determination of the people in the movement.
Category: Protest -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on a balcony in Memphis, Tennessee. His death sparked nationwide mourning and riots.
Category: Violence By Opposition -
Fair Housing Act
This law prohibited discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing. It was passed shortly after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
Category: Legislation -
Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman to run for a major party’s presidential nomination. Her campaign emphasized growing diversity and equal representation.
Category: Achievement -
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
The Supreme Court upheld its previous decision in Brown V. Board Of Education and required schools to make faster progress towards desegregation of schools. It reinforced the commitment to achieving racial equity in education.
Category: Supreme Court Case -
Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record
Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record despite facing extreme racism and death threats. His achievement symbolized Black excellence and perseverance, and that Black people are just as capable as White people in anything.
Category: Achievement -
Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention
Barbara Jordan delivered a speech at the Democratic Convention advocating for equality and justice. Her beautifully written speech made her address a defining moment in American politics.
Category: Achievement -
University of California Regents v. Bakke
The Supreme Court ruled affirmative action constitutional but banned racial quotas. This case created a balance between equal opportunity and fairness in education policy.
Category: Supreme Court Case