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Brown V. Broad of Education
May 17th 1954 A landmark Supreme Court case challenging racial segregation in public schools. Plaintiff, Oliver Brown and other parents, represented by the NAACP and Thurgood Marshall. Defendant, Topeka Board of Education. Ruling, Led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Court unanimously (9-0) declared segregation unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The decision found that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, violating the 14th Amendment. -
Murder of Emmett Till
On August 28, 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Money, Mississippi after being accused of whistling at Carolyn Bryant, a white woman. Her husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, kidnapped, beat, and shot Emmett, then dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River with a fan tied around his neck. -
Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott
From December 1, 1955, to December 20, 1956, the Montgomery Bus Boycott took place after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., African Americans boycotted buses for over a year, causing financial strain. The Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional, marking a major Civil Rights victory. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), founded on January 10–11, 1957 by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders, was based in Atlanta, Georgia. It coordinated nonviolent protests against segregation and played a key role in events like the March on Washington (1963) and the Selma to Montgomery marches (1965). The SCLC focused on voting rights, desegregation, and racial equality in the South -
Little Rock 9
In September 1957, the Little Rock Nine, nine African American students, integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, following the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Despite facing violent opposition, Governor Faubus sent the National Guard to block them, but President Eisenhower intervened, sending federal troops to protect the students. The Little Rock Nine became symbols of the fight for desegregation and civil rights. -
Greensboro Sit ins
On February 1, 1960, four African American college students sat at a whites-only lunch counter at Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina, peacefully requesting service. When denied, they stayed seated, sparking a wave of sit-ins. The protests spread to other cities and helped form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), contributing to the Civil Rights Movement. Eventually, the lunch counter was desegregated. -
Ruby Bridges
On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African American girl, became the first to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South, at William Frantz Elementary in New Orleans. She was escorted by U.S. Marshals to protect her from the violent protests and hatred from white demonstrators. Ruby’s bravery in the face of racism became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for school desegregation. -
Freedom riders
The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who, starting in May 4th 1961, rode buses through the South to challenge segregation in public transportation. Organized by CORE, they included both Black and white activists like James Farmer and John Lewis. They faced violent opposition, including mob attacks and arrests, in states like Alabama and Mississippi. Despite this, the Freedom Rides drew national attention and helped push for stronger enforcement of desegregation laws. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington on August 28, 1963, was a historic event where over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., at the Lincoln Memorial to advocate for jobs, freedom, and equality. Organized by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., it is best known for his "I Have a Dream" speech. The peaceful march helped push for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It banned segregation in public places, ended employment discrimination, and empowered the federal government to enforce desegregation, marking a key victory in the civil rights movement. -
Assassination of Malcom X
On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X, a key figure in the African American civil rights movement, was assassinated while giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Three men, including Talmadge Hayer, later convicted for the murder, shot him. The assassination was believed to be related to internal conflicts within the Nation of Islam, as Malcolm X had recently left the organization. His death shocked the nation and marked a tragic turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Selma To Montgomery Marches
The Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965 aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans. On March 7, Bloody Sunday, state troopers attacked peaceful marchers in Selma. Led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., the marches helped lead to the Voting Rights Act later that year. -
Voting Right Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington, D.C., aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. It banned practices like literacy tests that prevented African Americans from voting, particularly in the South. The Act also introduced federal oversight of elections in areas with a history of discrimination, marking a major victory for civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
ChatGPT said:
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray was arrested and convicted for the murder, though there have been ongoing debates about the full details of the assassination. King's death deeply impacted the Civil Rights Movement, leading to national mourning and sparking riots across the United States.