Civil rights

Jackie Robinson enters Major League Baseball

Apr 15, 1947

Jackie Robinson was the first African American major league baseball player. This opened the door for many others.

Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Ruling

May 17, 1954

Ruled that segregation of School's based on race was illegal. This opened the door for African Americans to attend schools that were better fit for their needs.

Emmett Till is murdered

Aug 28, 1955

Emmett was tortured solely for being an African American. His body was recovered shortly after he was thrown into a river.

Rosa Parks Arrest

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Park refused to give up her bus seat to a white person. She was arrested for this knowingly.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Dec 5, 1955

The Montgomery bus boycott was an attempt to end segregation on the cites buses. This lasted 381 days.

Little Rock Nine

Sep 4, 1957

A mob was preventing African American student from attending a mostly white school. President Eisenhower sent in the nation guard to escort them.

Greensboro Sit-In Protest

Feb 1, 1960

African Americans sat in a a restaurant until they were served. They were made fun of and discriminated against.

I Have a Dream Speech

Aug 28, 1960

This was given in front of the Lincoln memorial. 250,000 people attended, of all races.

The Birmingham Children’s March

May 10, 1963

This was a children's protest many thought they wouldn't be harmed. They were harmed violently by police.

Medgar Evers shooting

Jun 12, 1963

Medger Evers was a prominent civil rights activist, who was assassinated. This left many distraught without a leader.

16th Street Baptist Church Bombing

Sep 15, 1963

The KKK bombed this church during service. 4 little girls were killed.

Freedom summer

1964

This was the attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi. This indicated a new era for African Americans.

Malcolm X is murdered

Feb 21, 1965

He was a civil rights leader who was more aggressive than Martin Luther King. He was assassinated because he shifted away from the extreme Muslin belief.

Black Panther Party is formed

Oct 15, 1966

This was founded by African American college students. It was formed as a black power group.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated

Apr 4, 1968

Dr. king was assassinated at his hotel. This marked the end of the civil rights movement as we know it.