-
Creation of the NAACP
The NAACP was formed to combat racial discrimination and promote civil rights. This organization aimed to provide a voice for African Americans and fight for equality through legal challenges and public activism. -
Scottsboro Boys
Nine African American teenagers were falsely accused of assaulting two white women on a train in Alabama. Their trials, characterized by racism and injustice, became a mark of racial discrimination in the American legal system and showed the need for civil rights reforms. -
Jackie Robinson Joins the MLB
Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, breaking the color barrier. Not only was he successful in helping the Dodgers beat the Yankees, but he also became an icon in racial discrimination. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This Supreme Court case declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision was a victory for the civil rights movement, helping to disassemble legally sanctioned racial discrimination in education. -
The Murder of Emmett Till
As a 14-year-old African American boy, he was brutally murdered in Mississippi after he allegedly whistled at a white woman. His death and the subsequent trial for his murderers gave him the nickname the “Sacrificial Lamb” in the wake of the Civil Rights movement. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sparked by Rosa Parks's refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger, this boycott aimed to end racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery, Alabama -
The Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were nine African American students who integrated an all white Central High School in Arkansas, facing violent resistance that showed the desegregation challenges to the public -
Ruby Bridges & WF Elementary
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South. -
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Written by Martin Luther King Jr. while imprisoned for protesting segregation, King describes the struggles faced by African Americans and stresses the need for nonviolent resistance against unjust systems. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, or religion. It was a huge milestone in the fight for civil rights, addressing segregation in schools, workplaces, and public accommodations. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X, a prominent civil rights leader known for his advocacy for black empowerment and a more extreme approach to fighting racism, was assassinated in New York City -
Creation of the Black Panthers
The Black Panther Party was founded as a rebellious socialist organization to address systemic racism, police brutality, and social injustices against African Americans. -
Thurgood Marshall named SCJ
Thurgood Marshall became the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, representing a powerful step toward racial equality in the judiciary. -
Assassination of MLK Jr.
Assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, his death shocked the nation and prompted widespread riots, but it also continued the efforts towards racial equality and justice. -
Election of Barack Obama
The election of Barack Obama was historic as he became the first African American to become president, symbolizing a huge breakthrough in the fight for racial equality. His presidency showed that no matter what your background is, you can break the color barrier.