Civil Rights Timeline

  • Nat Turner’s Rebellion

    Nat Turner’s Rebellion
    Nat Turner led a slave revolt in Virginia, resulting in the deaths of approximately 60 white people. The rebellion heightened fears of uprisings, leading to harsher laws restricting enslaved people. It also intensified the national debate over slavery.
  • Maria Stewart

    Maria Stewart
    Maria Stewart was a smart and courageous woman. As an African American abolitionist and women's rights activist, Stewart delivered a speech urging African Americans to resist oppression. Her courage as the first Black woman to publicly speak on political issues inspired future generations of activists.
  • Why Sit Here and Die?

    Why Sit Here and Die?
    Author: Marie Stewart.
  • Southern Horrors. Lynch Law in All Its Phases.

    Southern Horrors. Lynch Law in All Its Phases.
    Author: Ida Wells.
  • Ida Wells

    Ida Wells
    A prominent journalist and civil rights activist, Wells’ writings and speeches played a pivotal role in raising awareness about racial violence.
  • Ida B. Wells’ Anti-Lynching Campaign

    Ida B. Wells’ Anti-Lynching Campaign
    Ida wanted justice after the lynching of her friends in Memphis. She launched a national anti-lynching campaign. Through her investigative journalism, she exposed the violence faced by African Americans and advocated for federal anti-lynching laws.
  • Harlem Renaissance

    Harlem Renaissance
    The Harlem Renaissance was a flourishing of African American culture in literature, art, and music. Writers like Zora Neale Hurston celebrated Black identity. They challenged racial stereotypes through their work.
  • Sweat

    Sweat
    Author: Zora Neale Hurston.
  • Zora Neale Hurston

    Zora Neale Hurston
    Zora was an amazing writer. Her short story "Sweat" is an example of her focus on the resilience of Black women. She was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance, capturing the cultural experiences of African Americans.
  • Cab Calloway

    Cab Calloway
    As a band leader, Cab Calloway was influential in sharing African American culture to the public. He took part in the Harlem renaissance through his music, making himself a name in jazz. His influence even continued into the zoot suit riots, as he and others like him popularized the fashion style.
  • Redlining and Segregation from Government.

    Redlining and Segregation from Government.
    The U.S. government, through the FHA, institutionalized redlining. This restricted African Americans and other minorities from buying homes in white neighborhoods. This systemic discrimination led to long-term racial segregation.
  • Zoot Suit Riots

    Zoot Suit Riots
    The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of violent clashes in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youth. The Mexican American youth wore oversized zoot suits as a form of cultural expression. The riots were fueled by racial prejudice and wartime tensions.
  • Richard Rothstein

    Richard Rothstein
    Rothstein was impactful for his informative work. As a scholar, Rothstein's research exposed the deep roots of housing segregation in America. He called for policy changes to address racial inequality.
  • A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America

    A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America
    Author: Richard Rothstein.
  • The Zoot Suit Riots and Wartime Los Angeles

    The Zoot Suit Riots and Wartime Los Angeles
    Author: The National WW2 Museum