-
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. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
First federal civil rights legislation signed by Eisenhower. -
Integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas
Nine black students enrolled at formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansa, which tested the Brown v BOE case. Dwight Eisenhower sent in troops to escort these students to their classes on the first day. -
Formation of SNCC
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was one of the most significant organizations of the Civil Rights Movement. It was created for anti-racism, participative democracy, and pacifism. -
Greensboro Sit-In
Series of non-violent protests in Greensboro. North Carolina. Led to the Woolworth department store chain removing its policy of racial segregation in the southern United States. -
Boynton v Virginia
The case overturned a judgment convicting an African American law student for trespassing by being in a restaurant in a bus terminal which was "whites only". -
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
African American man James Merideth attempted to enroll at the University of Mississippi. Chaos briefly broke out at the campus. There were riots that ended in two deaths, hundreds wounded, and many other arrested. -
Birmingham Protests
Movement organized in early 1963 by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference -
March on Washington
More than 200,000 Americans gathered for a political rally for jobs and freedom. -
24th Amendment Passed
After the 24th amendment was passed, there was a prohibition on any poll tax in elections for federal officials -
Freedom Summer
Volunteer campaign in the United States launched in June of 1964 to attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi. -
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 -
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.
