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Plessy v. Ferguson
This is a court case known for advancing the "separate but equal" sentiment that separated blacks and white, but gave them equal treatment. This case began when Homer Plessy (part white, part black) sat in the white area of a bus, and refused to move. He violated the Separate Car Act and was taken to court, where the court sided with Ferguson. [https://www.britannica.com/event/Plessy-v-Ferguson-1896] -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was a combination of four court cases related to segregation in schools combined into one. The court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This ruling would be tested with the Little Rock Nine attending Central High School. [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-death-of-emmett-till] -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was a 14-year-old African American that was kidnapped and murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman. His mom held an open casket funeral so the public could see how horrible his murderers mutilated his body. His murderers were put on trial but were found "not guilty" due to the body being too mutilated to identify. [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-death-of-emmett-till] -
Rosa Parks Rosa Parks & The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was a black woman who refused to give up her seat in the colored section for a white man when all of the other seats filled up. After being arrested, civil rights activists led by Martin Luther King boycotted the Montgomery buses. Thanks to the Montgomery bus boycotts, in 1956, the district court declared that racial segregation laws were unconstitutional. [https://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715] -
Founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) & Martin Luther King
This was an organization that was founded by Martin Luther King and his followers after the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The SCLC believed that all blacks should completely and nonviolently be against segregation. It's purpose was to coordinate and assist other civil rights organizations that were against slavery. [http://nationalsclc.org/about-us/history/]
[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Southern-Christian-Leadership-Conference] -
Greensboro Sit-Ins
This was a series of events where black students would sit in the white area of Woolworth's lunch counter. When asked to leave, they stayed in place. This resulted in them getting beaten and attacked by the white people at Woolworth's and arrested by police. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/the-greensboro-sit-in] -
Freedom Ride/Freedom Riders
The Freedom riders were groups of civil rights activists (both black and white) that rode on buses through the south (known as Freedom rides) in protest of segregated buses. This was done to test the supreme court decision in Morgan v. Virginia where segregation in public transportation was declared unconstitutional. Some freedom riders were attacked by racists and/or arrested by police. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedom-rides] -
March on Washington
This was a massive protest in Washington led by Phillip A. Randolph that was done to bring attention to the segregation and discrimination of black people. During this protest, Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. The March on Washington led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/march-on-washington] -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This was an act that ended segregation as well as banned discrimination in employment based on a person's race, color,religion, etc. It was originally proposed by President Kenny, but wasn't passed until 1964 by President Johnson. It was passed in response to the civil rights sit-ins, boycotts, protests, etc. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act] -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Comittee (SNCC) & Freedom Summer
This group was formed to give younger blacks a voice in the civil rights movement. They participated in Freedom Summer, an event that was meant to increase the amount of black people that voted in Mississippi. The event ended with the supporters getting attacked by the state authorities and KKK. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/sncc]
[https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedom-summer] -
Assassination of Malcolm X
In 1963, Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam because he had a more outspoken philosophy thatr didn't fit the beliefs of the religion. He converted to traditional Islam and founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Malcolm X was shot in the head by black Nation of Islam members while giving a speech during a rally of his organization. [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/malcolm-x-assassinated] -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act was passed to overcome any state or local laws that didn't allow African Americans to vote even though they were legally allowed to under the 15th Amendment. It was passed by President Johnson. Also, like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it was made in response to the civil rights protests. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/voting-rights-act] -
Assassination of MLK
Martin Luther King was shot and killed on a motel balcony by James Earl Ray (an escaped convict and racist). Riots broke out in major cities as a result of MLK's assassination. President Johnson declared the day of MLK's assassination a national day of mourning. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/martin-luther-king-jr] -
Little Rock Nine & Central High School
Nine black students were enrolled into Central High School as a test of the Brown v. Board court ruling. On the first day of school, the Governor in Arkansas called the Arkansas National Guard in to prevent them from entering the school. Eventually, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Arkansas to escort the Little Rock Nine to school. [https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/central-high-school-integration]
