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Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court decided that segregation was unconstitutional in public schools. This ruling overturned Plessy v. Ferguson which allowed segregation in public spaces. Even though this ruling only applied to public schools it was the start of other public places not following Jim Crow laws because it was seen as unconstitutional. I chose this moment because it was the start of people realizing that African Americans were still not treated fairly and that Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional. -
The Greensboro Four and the Sit-In Movement
Four African American students from Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina started a sit-in protest at the restaurant they were in. The group sat at the "white only" counter and was refused service. This movement gained attention and more students came in to participate in the sit-in. This movement caused more tension in the South and forced restaurants to integrate. This movement is important because it is one of the peaceful protests that caused a huge stir. -
Ruby Bridges
A six-year-old girl was escorted by U.S. marshalls to her newly integrated school in New Orleans. Every day she encountered an angry mob trying to stop her from going to school. During the school day, parents would pull their kids out of class to protest integration leaving Ruby to be taught in an empty classroom. This is an important moment because it shows that racism does not discriminate and affects all ages. It also shows how difficult it was for African Americans to receive an education. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was to protest civil rights and to fight workplace discrimination. A huge crowd of 250,000 people were at the Washington Mall protesting peacefully. This is also where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I had a dream" speech. I included this in the timeline because it is one of the most memorable moments during the civil rights movement. It is also what led to the Civil Rights Act being signed. -
The Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party was founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The reason why this group was started was to protect African Americans from police brutality. The Panthers also had multiple programs that supported the community including The Free Breakfast program which allowed students to receive free breakfast at school. I included this party in my timeline because most people don't talk about the Black Panther Party, or talk about the violence when they weren't a violent group. -
Loving v. Virginia
The Supreme Court declared that Virginia prohibiting interracial marriage was unconstitutional. This case came to life when Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter were accused of breaking the law because they went to a different state to be officially married and then moved back to Virginia where interracial marriage was illegal. This moment is important because it allowed African Americans to be treated fairly and control their own lives without the government's approval. -
Citations
Pruitt, S. (2024, February 1). The Civil Rights Movement: 7 key moments that led to change. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/civil-rights-movement-key-events The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2023, July 28). Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/timeline-of-the-american-civil-rights-movement