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Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme court case leading to the ruling that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This ruling overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of "separate but not equal" claiming that segregation in schools is "inherently unequal". LEGISLATION -
Emmit Tills' murder
On August 28, 1955, Emmit tills, a 14-year-old African American was murdered by two white men in Mississippi because of flirting with a white. His mother decided to have an open-casket funeral to reveal how racial violence and injustice was affecting people. This event shocked America and caused an upsurge in activism against racism. Violence by the opposition. VIOLENCE BY OPPOSITION -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
This event was a 381-day boycott of the bus systems in Montgomery, Alabama led by civil rights activists. It was against Montgomery's segregation laws on buses. 75% of those who rode the buses were African Americans and this boycott had a significant impact on the Montgomery bus system and the US. It caused the U.S Senate to declare the Montgomery system unconstitutional. OPPOSITION BY PROTESTORS/LEGISLATION -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first major legislative act towards Civil Rights by the U.S. Senate since the Reconstruction Era. It was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and created the Civil Right Division of the U.S. Justice Department and gave Federal Officials permission to take action against anyone who interfered with someone else's right to vote. LEGISLATION/ACHIEVEMENT -
Little Rock Nine
In this event, Arkansas Governor Oral Faubus called the National Guard out to prevent nine African American students from entering Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The students were turned away and sent home. Two weeks later, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the "Little Rock Nine" into the school. The nine had successfully integrated into Central High School. ACHIEVEMENT -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
This event was a massive protest in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Over 250,000 people showed up to demand equal pay and job opportunities, economic justice, an end to segregation, and several other civil rights issues. During this protest, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a dream speech". PROTEST -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act established the prevention of segregation on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin, in all public places. It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, helped voting rights, and continued towards the desegregation of schools. It was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. LEGISLATION -
James Meredith's March Against fear
James Meridith, known for integrating the University of Mississippi, led a march from Memphis, TN, to Jackson, MS, promoting voter registration and civil rights. On the second day of the march he was shot, however, other major Civil Rights leaders decided to continue the march. The march successfully helped 4,000 African Americans register to vote.
PROTEST/ACHIEVEMENT -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4th, 1968, the most prominent leader of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr., was shot in the neck, later dying from those injuries. This event shocked the nation and caused outbreaks of violence across the U.S. VIOLENCE BY OPPOSITION -
Fair Housing Act
This act prevents landlords, sellers, and financial institutions from denying someone the right to rent, sell, or buy houses on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disabilities, and national origin. This Act was considered by Congress for two years and was finally passed a few days after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. LEGISLATION -
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education was a Supreme Court case in which it was decided that children in Charlotte could ride the buses to attend a school outside of their neighborhood. This case helped further the desegregation of schools by forcing school districts to use school busing systems that would allow for racial integration. SUPREME COURT CASE -
Shirley Chisholm's Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman to serve in Congress and eventually, the first to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. She ran in 1972 with the slogan "Unbought and Unbossed" to fight for the rights of women, African Americans, and immigrants. Her goal was to show what someone could accomplish and how far they could get. ACHIEVEMENT -
Hank Aaron's Home Run Record
On April 4th, 1974, African American Atlanta braves player, Hank Aaron, beat Babe Ruth's home run record with 715 career home runs. Months prior to his major achievement, he had received death threats and hate mail. ACHIEVEMENT -
Barbara Jordan's address at the Democratic National Convention
Barbara Jordan was the first African American woman to give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. During her optimistic speech, she called for Americans to form a "national community" in which they could conquer the future together and create a society where everyone is equal. NO VIOLENCE -
University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke sued the University of California because they rejected his application twice to reserve spots for minorities through their racial quotas. The court ruled that colleges can consider race but may not use racial quotas for college admissions because it violates the Equal Protection clause, the 14th Amendment, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. SUPREME COURT CASE