-
Creation of the NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. An interracial American organization created to work for the abolition of segregation and discrimination in housing, education, employment, voting, and transportation; to oppose racism; and to ensure African Americans their constitutional rights. -
Scottsboro Boys
Nine black teenagers accused of rape in Alabama in 1931. The case included a frameup, an all-white jury, rushed trials, an attempted lynching, and an angry mob; it is frequently given as an example of an overall miscarriage of justice. -
Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American in the major leagues when he plays his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. -
The Murder of Emmett Till
The murder of a 14 year old African-American boy named Emmett Till after he reportedly flirted with a white woman. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks on 1 December 1955, the Montgomery bus boycott was a 13-month mass protest that ended with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional. -
The Little Rock 9
the nine African-American students involved in the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. -
Ruby Bridges desegregate elementary school
Ruby Bridges integrated William Frantz Elementary School, becoming the public face of desegregation in New Orleans at the age of 6. -
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
The Letter from Birmingham Jail is an open letter written on April 16, 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr. The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, arguing that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
On February 21, 1965, one week after his home was firebombed, Malcolm X was shot to death by Nation of Islam members while speaking at a rally of his organization in New York City. -
Creation of the Black Panthers
The Black Panthers were formed in California in 1966 and they played a short but important part in the civil rights movement. The Black Panthers believed that the non-violent campaign of Martin Luther King had failed and any promised changes to their lifestyle via the 'traditional' civil rights movement, would take too long to be implemented or simply not introduced. -
Thurgood Marshall Named Supreme Court Justice
On June 13, 1967, President Johnson nominated Marshall to the Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Tom C. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
At 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was hit by a sniper's bullet. -
Election of Barack Obama
Barack Obama began his presidential campaign in 2007 and, after a close primary campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2008, he won sufficient delegates in the Democratic Party primaries to receive the presidential nomination.
