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Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play in Major League Baseball
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in MLB. While playing, he had to endure threats and violence in a manner of peace. Even before this, he stood up against discrimination and used his platform to further his beliefs. This was one of the first major events in which a black was integrated with whites and motivated others to do the same. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. Board of Education was a case brought up to the Supreme Court over the issue of segregating schooling. The court ruled 9-0 in favor of Brown and declared that racial segregation in schools violated the 14th amendment and therefore now illegal. This ruling began the questioning of the "separate but equal" principle created from the Plessy v. Ferguson case. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery bus boycott was a peaceful act of civil disobedience in which African Americans did not take public buses in Montgomery for a 13th month period. It was motivated by the arrest of Rosa Parks and ended when the Supreme court ruled that segregation on Public buses was unconstitutional. This event is often considered one of the foundations of the civil rights movement and the emergence of Martin Luther King Jr. -
Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were a group of 9 African Americans who enrolled at previously all-white Little Rock Central High School in response to the Brown v. Board of Education. The children had to get escorted into school by the National Guard and had to endure extreme bullying in both verbal and physical attributes. Their persistence led to inspiring other African Americans to make moves towards integration. -
Greensboro Sit-Ins
The Greensboro sit-ins was a period where young African Americans would go into Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina which was segregated and would refuse to leave even after denied service. This persisted for nearly 5 months and spread around the South to other cities. This act of nonviolent civil disobedience brought attention to the issue of segregation to a national scale and inspired others. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a rally held in Washington D.C. that was in support for all aspects of the civil rights movement: segregation, fair wages, economic justice, voting rights, education, and civil rights protections. It was held to show support for the Civil Rights Act which was currently in Congress. Around 250,000 gathered and MLK gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. This march had a huge impact on the passing of the act. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 declared that any discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin is illegal. This included segregation public places and discrimination in the workforce or federal programs. This act is often regarded as one of the most important legislative achievements of the civil rights movement. Even now, this act can been seen working in America. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X was a prominent figure for Black empowerment and had a more aggressive policy in which he thought more action needed to be taken, opposing many of MLK's beliefs. While giving a speech, Malcolm X was shot down by other members of the Nation of Islam who wished to create an enclave of just African Americans, something Malcolm X was against. His assassination created rifts within the Nation of Islam and took them mostly out of the civil rights movement. -
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Selma to Montgomery Marches
In 1965, hundreds of African Americans gathered in Selma, Alabama and marched 54 miles to Montgomery to advocate for their right to vote. It was led by Martin Luther King Jr. While this was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience, the beginning of the march was met with attacks from the police using clubs, whips, and tear gas. This violent turn and dedication of the protesters helped to push for the passing of the Voting Rights Act. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and it banned the use of literacy tests and any other method which may inhibit the ability of African Americans or any one else to vote. It abolished any lasting forms of discrimination that prevented African Americans from voting and reinforced the 15th amendment which was passed years before. -
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James Meredith March Against Fear
James Meredith was the first African American to enroll at the University of Mississippi. Continuing his work for civil rights, he started a march in which he walked from Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi. On the second day of his march, he was shot three times and while he did not die, he was hospitalized and could not continue. This event rallied many organizations together who continued his march and some white citizens joined as well. -
Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer who was heavily active in the courts with cases dealing with Jim Crow laws and segregation. One of his famous cases that he participated in was the Brown v. Board of Education case. Marshall was eventually nominated as the first African American Supreme Court judge by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was a major event in which a black was now a member of the ruling court of the nation and could vote on the deciding cases of the nation. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was arguably the most prominent leader of the civil rights movement and was involved in a number of the protests that occured. He promoted peaceful civil disobedience and wished for the races to get along without fighting. His assassination made many blacks feel that his dreams were not possible and riots sparked across the nation in response to this event as Africans Americans were filled with anger. -
Fair Housing Act of 1968
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, expanded on previous legislation. It was signed into law in response to the King assassination riots that were the result of the assassination of MLK. This act explicitly stated that any form of discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing was not allowed. The act not only covered race, religion, and sex discrimination but also handicap and family status discrimination. -
Fullilove v. Klutznick
The Fullilove v. Klutznick court case was a case in the Supreme Court in response to Congress passing a legislation which started 10% of federal funds must be spent on minority owned businesses. Fullilove was arguing that this legislation was harming his business and therefore violating a clause of the 14th amendment. The court ruled 6-3 against Fullilove and stated that Congress could use its spending power to help mend past discrimination.