-
NAACP Formed
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in order to protect the black man from racial discrimination and hate. The NAACP is still in function today and still works for the civil rights of colored people. Through the years it has helped civil rights movements and has helped African Americans in court situations. -
Second Great Migration Begins
The Second Great Migration was the migration of African Americans from the southern states and into northern and western states (such as New York or California) looking for more reasonable lifestyles and better work. There were many job openings in California that did not discriminate against color like so many places did. Amazingly, this migration lasted in 1970. -
Executive Order 9981 Passed
With the passing of this Executive Order, there was no longer to be segregation in the armed forces. This opened up a ton more opportunities for black Americans. not only that, but it was one the first actual orders that made segregation illegal in a certain organization. For once, the average black person could join the military if they so wished. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This monumental lawsuit made it all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was declared unconstitutional for segregation to be happening, specifically in schools. -
Emmett Till Killed
Emmett Till was an African American boy beaten and murdered mercilessly by two white men for supposedly flirting with a white woman. The men had tortured Till and would eventually shoot and drown him in the Mississippi river. After officials found his body, pictures were sent around the country of his face that had been brutally disfigured, as per request by his mother. The pictures made headlines across the nation and drew attention to black rights in the south. -
Rosa Parks Makes History
When Rosa parks sat in the white section of the bus in 1955, she was one of the main catalysts in large scale protests for black freedom. Once people saw her take a stand, they felt as though they could too. So they did. After this date and for many years to come, black Americans would rally up and demand equality until something had finally been done. -
The Little Rock Nine Begin School
This was one of the first times a school became desegregated. The “Little Rock Nine” were the first 9 African American students to come to Little Rock Central High School. After they had been told they couldn’t because of their race. After Brown vs. Board of Education, schools could no longer be segregated, thus leading the 9 to come to this school. This caused quite an uproarious response from the dominating white race of Little Rock. -
The SCLC is Created
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was the main organization tied with activist Martin Luther King Jr. and had a leading role in the American Civil Rights Movement. -
The Woolworth Sit-Ins Begin
This even brought attention to the need of non-segregated diners and restaurants. Also, this particular sit-in would be one of, if not the, biggest sit-in protest in the nation, bringing in over 1,000 protesters at one point in one place. -
The SNCC is Created
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was a protest committee that designed peaceful, but powerful, protests. This group was majorly responsible for such great protests as: the diner sit-ins, the freedom rides, and the March on Washington. -
The Freedom Ride Begin
This non-violent protest was done by African American activists trying to shed light on the illegal act of segregation in buses. The Southern states had not recognized this law and the federal government did nothing about it. Thus, the protest began. It first started calmly, but then turned horrendous after KKK members slashed the tires and lit the bus on fire. The riders lived but never finished their journey. -
James Meredith is Accepted to University of Mississippi
James Meredith was the first African American to be accepted into the University of Mississippi, a school well known for it’s segregation. This marked a huge turning point in African American rights, as a black man was accepted into an all white university. -
Letter from Birmingham Jail
The Letter from the Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King Jr. This letter encourage the prisoners to non-violently rebel against unjust laws, and would prove to be a major part of the Civil Rights Movement. -
"Bull" Connor uses Firehoses on Black Demonstrators
This event showed what was happening down south to the nonviolent protesters and their children. Because of this event, millions started to side with the African Americans -
March On Washington
This march was made to shed light on the challenges faced socially, economically, and politically by African Americans. Eventually, this march would host Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and become the metaphorical monument it is today. -
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
This act of white supremacist terrorism shook the nation. 4 young girls had been killed because of the bombings, resulting in a more widespread acceptance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
24th Amendment Passed
Finally, after many years, underprivileged African Americans could vote (which was the majority). The actual amendment made it so that states could no longer have a poll tax at the voting station. These taxes were usually just high enough so that African Americans couldn’t vote, so when this passed, it checked off a new freedom from the list of requests by African Americans. -
Murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner
Murdered by the KKK, James, Andrew, and Michael were working on getting voting rights for African Americans in Mississippi. The state of Mississippi refused to prosecute anyone, and thus sparked a national outrage that would influence the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Passed
This act outlawed many major, if not all, forms of discrimination against blacks, women, minorities, etc. Not only that, but this act ended unequal application to voters and segregation at schools and the workplace. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Passed
Unlike the 24th amendment, this act banned discrimination dealing with voting. This was the true call for African Americans to vote. They could finally vote undiscriminated. -
Malcolm X Assassinated
One of the most influential black people of the century had been killed. He was a Muslim priest and a human rights activist that was widely accepted and loved by the African American culture. Because of him, many people got the courage to stand up for what they believe in. -
Bloody Sunday
This was the first march of the Selma to Montgomery marches. During this march, which was protesting exclusion from the electoral process, police came in and clubbed and gassed 600 people. This event made news and brought attention to the trilogy of the Selma/Montgomery marches. -
Los Angeles Race Riots of 1965
The Los Angeles Race Riots of 1965, or more commonly known as the Watts Riots, lasted six days and was the most violent riots in the area until the riots in 1992. Total casualties: 34 dead, 1,032 injured, and 3,438 arrested. -
Executive Order 11246 Passed
Executive Order 11246 is a federal mandate that dictates that any employer who is offering a job which position makes over 10,000 dollars in a year cannot discriminate based on race or ethnicity. Basically, this executive order was made so that employees have equal opportunities in getting a job. -
Black Panthers are Founded
The Black Panthers were a group dedicated to social change among blacks. They made sure police brutality was not a problem among black neighborhoods and became widely known for their involvement in the Black Power movements. -
Loving vs. Virginia Court Case
After this court battle, it was now legal for interracial marriages. This proved to be a huge stepping stone in American history because now, you could marry anyone you wanted to. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is Assassinated
The death of MLK saddened and angered the nation. Who would do such a thing? Well, that person was James Earl Ray. Obviously, his death was mourned greatly by African Americans. Who could blame them? One of the great leaders of African American movements everywhere had just been murdered. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is Passed
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 brough equal housing opportunities into the community, and made it illegal to interfere, intimidate, etc by reasons of race or ethnicity. -
Civil Rights Act of 1991 is Passed
This act made it so that employers could defend themselves in the case of suing by an employee for discrimination. The employers could now be set free if they proved that they would have made the same decision under lawful motives. Basically, it got rid of employment discrimination. -
Los Angeles Race Riots of 1992
The Race Riots started after Los Angeles acquitted to white police officers of brutally (and unreasonably) beating an African American man. The Riots were the largest in the US since the 1960s and featured a plethora of illegal activity including murder, looting, and arson. The riots would eventually end after US Marines from Camp Pendleton were called in for reinforcement. In total, 53 people were killed and over 2,000 injured because of the riots.
