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Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court case, ruling that it was constitutional to have "separate but equal" segregation of races. -
Formation of NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: Civil rights organization made to advance justice for African Americans by W.E.B. DuBois. -
Malcolm X Leads the Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam was mixed with religious points of Islam, including black pride and nationalism, followers being known as "Black Muslims." When Malcolm X made his conversion, he was made a leading spokesperson and led Temple Number 7 in Harlem. He also grew the number of followers from 1,200 to roughly 75,000. -
Brown v. BOE of Topeka
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, overturning previous Plessy v. Ferguson. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
A protest against the policy of racial segregation on Montgomery, Alabama's public transit system. -
Formation of SCLC
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference organized the civil rights movement and its principles on nonviolence and disobedience. -
Integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas
Nine black students enrolled at a formerly all-white high school, testing the Supreme Court ruling in 1954. At first, the National Guard was called to bar their entry, but Eisenhower sent in troops to escort them into school. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
First federal civil rights legislation signed by Eisenhower. -
Greensboro Sit-In
This began at a lunch counter in NC, where four black students were denied service, but continued to stay. Six months later, the original protesters were served lunch at that same counter. -
Formation of SNCC
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was founded to give young African Americans with a voice in the civil rights movement. -
Boynton v. Virginia
Court case that overturned a judgement convicting a black law student for trespassing by being in "whites only" bus. -
First Freedom Ride
Seven blacks and six whites left D.C. on two public buses going to the Deep South. Their goal was to test the Boynton v. Virginia ruling. -
James Meredith enrolls in Ole Miss
Riot fought between Southern segregationists and federal/state forces, where the segregationists protested the enrollment of Meredith, a black military veteran. -
Birmingham Protests
Campaign organized by the SCLC to bring attention to the integrations of African Americans in Birmingham, AL. -
March on Washington
200,000-300,000 gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for a political rally for jobs and freedom. -
24th Amendment Passed
Abolished poll tax from all federal elections. -
Freedom Summer
Volunteer campaign created to register as many black Mississippi voters as possible. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil rights and US labor law that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, etc. -
Malcolm X Assassinated
Shot before he delivered a speech in New York on his new organization of Afro-American unity. -
Selma March
MLK led nonviolent demonstrators to Montgomery where the SNCC and SCLC were campaigning for voting rights. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Signed to outlaw the discriminatory voting practices from southern states post-Civil War. -
Black Panthers Founded
Black nationalist political party founded in Oakland, CA to patrol African-American neighborhoods, protecting them from police brutality. -
MLK Jr. Assassinated
Shot at a Memphis hotel by white man, James Earl Ray, who resented the increasing black influence in society. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
Established equal housing opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin. -
Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated
Shot after winning the CA presidential primary by Sirhan Sirhan, an Arab nationalist. RFK was targeted because of his support for Israel.
