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Brown v. Board of Education
In the case Brown v. Board of education, the Supreme court ruled that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This ruling paved the bright path to desegregation. The decision also overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson which ruled that separation of races in schools was constitutional if treatment were "separate but equal". The Brown's NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, won the case. -
Rosa Parks' Arrest
Rosa Parks refused giving up her seat at the front of the "colored section" of a bus to a white passenger. This was a bold, unheard of mood, as it was common courtesy in the South at that time. For this defiance, she was arrested. Furthermore, the Montgomery black community launched a bus boycott in efforts to desegregate buses. Their goal was reached Dec. 21, 1956. Martin Luther King, Jr. played an imperative role in leading the boycott, which was all inspired by the strong character of Parks. -
Freedom Riders
On May 4th, 1961 an interracial group of thirteen Southern and Northern men and women called the Freedom Riders traveled from one Southern City to the next. They aimed to help desegregate the Deep South by testing the federal laws of desegregation to see which cities were compliant with the federal law. Throughout their journey they faced beatings, arrests, and bombings. The Freedom Riders Journey awakened the Civil Rights Movement, as they inspired people to work hard for their equal rights. -
Bull Connor
During the civil rights protests in Birmingham, Alabama, Commissioner of Public Safety, Eugene "Bull" Connor attracted much attention. He ordered forces to use fire hoses, police dogs, and other unfair tactics on black demonstrators. This event ended up backfiring on Bull as the images of brutality, which were televised and published across the country arose sympathy in the civil rights movement among citizens. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the most influential person of the time. He led the black community and white supporters, taking the civil rights movement by storm. He delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, where 200,000 fans gathered. One of his great accomplishments include winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Following his success, those who resented MLK's ideas fired back more than ever. King was assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN.
