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Brown vs Board of Education
Brown vs the Board of Education declared "separate but equal" schools as unconstitutional. The case overturned the previous ruling made by Plessy vs Ferguson. This case was very significant because it gave equality to whites and blacks within the school system in terms of the schools they could attend. -
Murder of Emmett Till
On August 24 1955, Emmett Till and a group of teenagers entered a Grocery Store. Till was accused by a white cashier of whistling at her and flirting with her. Four days later, the woman's husband and half brother kidnapped Till and killed him. The two men were put on trial for murder but were acquitted despite great evidence of their guilt by an all white jury. This event was significant because it sparked outrage and became a catalyst in the fight for civil rights for African Americans. -
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give up her Seat on the Bus
On a December day in Montgomery Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man saying that her feet hurt. At this time African Americans were forced to either stand or sit at the back of the bus. Rosa Parks was arrested for her refusal to give up her seat. This event is extremely significant because it led to many more bus protests and eventually led to the public bus system being desegregated. -
Greensboro Sit ins
The Greensboro sit ins began when four college students from NCA&T sat down at a segregated Woolworth's counter and refused to leave after they were denied service. The sit ins continued and spread to other venues as a form of protest. These sit ins were significant because they were one of the most effective ways of non violent protesting during the civil rights movement and led to Woolworth's and other related chains being desegregated. -
Passing of 24th Amendment
The 24th amendment outlawed poll taxes as a voting requirement for federal elections. This amendment was extremely significant because poll taxes were used to prevent African Americans from voting. With the outlawing of poll taxes, African Americans could now vote without being discriminated against. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was done to fight for the civil rights of African Americans. At the end of the march Martin Luther King Jr gave his most famous "I have a Dream Speech". This event was significant because it brought African Americans together and made them passionate about what they were fighting for. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, religion or sex. This act was very important in helping African Americans have equal opportunities as other citizens.
