-
Brown v. Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, following the case of Linda Brown, who was denied entry to a whites-only school in Topeka, Kansas, simply because she was African American. This decision marked the end of legally sanctioned segregation in American schools. -
Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Money, Mississippi, after allegedly whistling at Carolyn Bryant, a white woman. Her husband, Roy Bryant, and his brother-in-law, J.W. Milam, kidnapped, tortured, and killed Till, dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River. The open-casket funeral held by his mother sparked national outrage, drawing attention to racial violence and injustice, and became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott
The boycott began in Montgomery, Alabama, after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus. Local laws required African Americans to sit at the back, and if the white section was full, they had to surrender their seats. Parks was arrested for her defiance but was later bailed out by a local civil rights leader. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The (SCLC) was an organization connected to African American churches, with 60 black ministers from Atlanta, Georgia, playing a crucial role in organizing civil rights activism. Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen as its president. The SCLC adopted a nonviolent approach, focusing on issues like citizenship, education, and efforts to desegregate various cities. It was instrumental in the 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Voting Rights Campaign, including the march from Selma to Montgomery. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students who fought against racial segregation in Little Rock, Arkansas public schools. Their efforts became central to the nationwide battle to desegregate schools, particularly in the South. The events surrounding their enrollment at Little Rock Central High School sparked a heated national debate on racial segregation and civil rights. -
Greensboro Sit ins
The Greensboro sit-in was a pivotal civil rights protest where young African American students sat at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and refused to leave after being denied service. The protest spread to college towns across the South. While many participants were arrested for trespassing or disturbing the peace, their actions quickly forced Woolworth’s and other businesses to change their segregationist policies. -
Ruby Bridges
When Ruby Bridges was in kindergarten, her family moved to New Orleans, where she was selected to take a test to see if she could attend an all-white school. This was a result of the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which mandated school desegregation. Ruby was one of six students who passed the test, and her parents chose to send her to an all-white elementary school for a better education. Ruby helped open the door for other African American children. -
Freedom Riders
In Washington, D.C., six riders boarded a Greyhound bus and seven boarded a Trailways bus, planning to travel to New Orleans. They were aware of the racial hostility, violence, and the potential for death they would encounter. Despite this, they were determined to face these challenges nonviolently in their struggle for equality. -
March on Washington
Over 200,000 people gathered in Washington, DC, to demand equal rights for all races. It was here that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. This peaceful protest played a key role in advancing the importance of civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s. -
Civil Rights Act 1964
Signed by President Johnson at the White House, the Civil Rights Act banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It prohibited discrimination in hiring, promotion, and firing, based on both race and sex. The act also outlawed discrimination in public places and federally funded programs, and it reinforced voting rights and efforts to desegregate schools. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X, a prominent African American activist and leader in the Nation of Islam, was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of his murder, though debates continue about possible involvement of others. His assassination marked a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, as his advocacy for racial justice and self-determination left a lasting impact on the fight for equality. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches
In 1965, a series of protest marches aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans in the South. On "Bloody Sunday," March 7, state troopers and local law enforcement violently assaulted peaceful protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, causing national outrage. The brutality garnered widespread support for the cause, culminating in the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year. -
Voting Rights Act 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to deny voting rights based on race. It ended discriminatory practices like literacy tests and poll taxes, particularly in the South. The law helped increase African American voter participation and was crucial in the fight against racism and for equal rights. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. As a key leader in the civil rights movement, he was renowned for his peaceful protests against racism and injustice. His death shocked the world, but his legacy of advocating for equality and nonviolence continues to inspire people worldwide.