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Jackie Robinson Enters the Major Leagues
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to be allowed to play in a major American sport league. Branch Rickey signed Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers on this date, marking a pivotal moment in history. Nowadays, there a many African American players in major sport leagues around the world. -
Executive Order 9981
This was an executive order from President Harry S. Truman, that banned and outlawed any discrimination, on the basis of race, color/ethnicity, sex, or origin. This act would be followed by more acts that would outlaw more things having to do with race and civil rights. -
The Emmett Till Murder
Emmett Till was an African American teenager from Chicago, who went to visit his family in the south. While Till was at a shop on his visit, he supposedly cat called at a white woman, and said "Bye baby." A few nights later, a group of men showed up at Till's relative's house, and pulled the boy out of bed. He was brutally beaten and drowned by these men. When his corpse was discovered, his mother held an open casket funeral, so the world could see what had happened to her son. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
This was a protest of the bus system in Montgomery, Alabama. The goal of this protest was to end the segregation on buses, so African American people would not have to go to the back of the bus, in favor of white people. -
The Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were the first African American students to be allowed to attend a white school. They faced yelling and jeering from massive mobs on their walks to school. These mobs became so angry and violent, that President Eisenhower had to bring military intervention to protect these students. -
Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
This was an act performed by George Wallace, 45th governor of Alabama. He physically went to a schoolhouse and stood in the doorway, as a form of protest for African American students being allowed to enroll in white schools. -
The March On Washington
This was the most famous of civil rights marches in the mid 1900's civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. gave possibly the most famous speech ever, in front of the Lincoln Monument. This event has been etched in history as one of the most important, and famous, moments in American history, because it was a pivotal moment in shifting the view of the general public to a less racist view. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This was the law that declared all types of segregation by categories like, race, ethnicity, sex, religion, or origin. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This was the landmark federal decision to end any segregation that would prohibit anyone from voting. -
Black Panther Party is Formed
The Black Panther Party was an anti-segregation party. They were formed to be a radical counter-group to any anti-African American people. They were seen as radical and unjust to the general public.
