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Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was a 14 year-old African American boy from Chicago that was murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman four days earlier. He was beaten to death, shot and thrown in the river tied to the cotton-gin fan by barbed wire. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-death-of-emmett-till -
Rosa Parks/ Montgomery bus boycott
Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to give her seat up to a white man. This historic event created a civil rights protest where African Americans refused to ride buses in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa was fined a total of 14$ in fines and court fees. She was bailed out of jail by E.D Nixon. African American leaders decided to attack the ordinance with also using other tactics. Buses soon then became integrated. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/montgomery-bus-boycott -
Greensboro Four
This movement was started by four African Americans who were refused food at a popular retail store. David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. and Joe McNeil were 17 when they started a silent protest. They sat at an all whites counter and refused to move until they were fed. Six days later there were thousands of people against segregation outside the store. The Greensboro Four lead the way for desegregation in North Carolina. https://www.ncpedia.org/history/20th-Century/greensboro-four -
March on Washington
250,000 people gathered in front on the Lincoln Memorial located in Washington D.C. The march was for Jobs and Freedom. It aimed attention towards the challenges and inequalities African Americans faced. This was the occasion that led to Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I have a dream". https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/march-on-washington -
The Murder of Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was an African American civil rights leader. He spent his life encouraging African Americans to register to vote and recruiting them into the civil rights movement. Evers tried to get witnesses and evidence for the Emmett Till murder case. He was shot to death outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/medgar-evers-assassinated -
Birmingham Church Bombing
The bomb exploded before Sunday morning service. This church was not only a predominantly black congregation but also served as a meeting place for civil rights leaders. In the explosion four young girls were killed with many others injured. The outrage brought national attention to the civil rights for African Americans. This bombing caught the attention of the people for this was the third bombing in 11 days. Later, 2 suspects were convicted between the years of 2001-2002. www.history.com -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This Act ended segregation in public places as well as banned employment discrimination based on religion, sex, race, color, or national origin. Soon after Congress expanded the act and passed additional civil rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act -
Allan Bakke Case
Allan Bakke was a 35 year-old white man that was rejected twice when applying to medical school. He has superiority over the students that were excepted. He filed a lawsuit against the university for "reverse discrimination". The university was then forced to admit Bakke. Several U.S states prohibited affirmative action programs based on race. https://www.britannica.com/event/Bakke-decision
