Civil Rights Timeline

Brown vs. Board of Education

May 17, 1954

Linda Brown, an African American student from Tokepa, Kansas was prevented from attending an all white elementary school a shotrt walk from her home due to segregation. She argued that she should be able to attend that school instead of having to walk a long distance to a black school and NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marchall argued on her behalf. They were able to win the courtcase which ended segregation in public schools.

Civil Rights Timeline

Period: May 17, 1954 to Apr 4, 1968

Rosa Parks is arrested

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Parks was riding the bus and refused to give up her seat to another white passenger. She was then arrested and this all lead to an outrage in the black community.

SCLC is formed

Jan 10, 1957

The Southern Christian Leadership Confrence (SCLC) was an expansion of MIA. It was led by Martin Luther King Jr. and consited of many organization that were foinded and based on churches that came together to end descrimination.

Little Rock Nine able to enter Central High School

Sep 25, 1957

Nine African American teens were allowed to enter Central high School which was an all white school. This was an enormous breakthrough for the African American community.

SNCC is formed

Apr 28, 1960

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committe (SNCC) was formed which is an organization that was created by southern university students. They had activist students who protested.

James Meredith admitted into the University of Mississippi

Oct 1, 1962

For many months, the mayor and many people tried to keep James Meredith from being able to attend the university due to him being an African American. JFK got involved and he was finally allowed to attend. Following his admission, many white citizens began to riot.

"Letter From Birmingham Jail" is written by Martin Luther King Jr.

Apr 16, 1963

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter while in jail in Birmingham, Alabama for participating in a nonviolent protest.

I Have a Dream Speech

Aug 28, 1963

Martin Luther King and many protesters marched through Washington to the Lincoln Memorial where he gave his "I Have a Dream Speech" which moved many and is known as his most famous speech he has ever given.

John F Kennedy is Assassinated

Nov 22, 1963

While in Dallas, Texas for a parade in hopes to gain more texas votes, JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

24th Amendment is passed

Jan 23, 1964

The 24th Amendment banned poll taxes for voting and allowed African Americans to vote.

Freedom Summer

Jun 20, 1964

Robert Moses got volunteer students from northern universities to go to Ohio to train to protest. After training, they planned to head for Mississippi to protest for civil rights.

CORE member dissapear

Jun 21, 1964

Andrew Goodman, and two other CORE members, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner dissappeared while in Mississippi. Police officials knew it had to do with KKK involvement. Their bodies were not found for another 6 weeks and no major punishments were given to their murderers.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed

Jul 2, 1964

This act banned discrimination of race, religion, or gender when employing someone.

Malcolm X is assassinated

Feb 21, 1965

Three Black Muslims who disagreed with his ideas shot and killed Malcolm X. He was shot in New York City.

March on Selma

Mar 7, 1965

Civil Rights workers demanded that the voting registration be fair to everyone instead of just whites.

Black Panthers are formed

Oct 15, 1966

The Black Panthers were formed by Bobb Seale and Huey Newton. They tried to protect the Amfrican American community of discrimination and were often very violent.

Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King was shot on a a hotel balcony in Memphis, Tenessee by James Earl Ray.