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Brown v. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren delivered the unanimous ruling in the landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. State-sanctioned segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment and was therefore unconstitutional. -
Murder of Emmett Till
On August 28, 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till entered Bryant's Grocery and Meat Market in Money, Mississippi, where he allegedly whistled at Carolyn Bryant, a 21-year-old white woman. Two nights later, Carolyn's husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother J.W. Milam kidnapped Till from his uncle's home. They brutally beat him, castrated him, and shot him in the head before disposing of his body in the Tallahatchie River, shining a light on the severe racial violence and injustices of the era. -
Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus, leading to her arrest. This act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a year-long protest against racial segregation on public transportation, significantly influencing the civil rights movement and resulting in the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on buses was unconstitutional. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was founded on January 10, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia. It involved 60 black ministers and civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., who became its president. The SCLC aimed to link black churches to civil rights activism, viewing them as crucial organizing spaces. It played a key role in the civil rights movement, leading campaigns like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Birmingham Campaign. -
Little Rock 9
On September 4, 1954, the Little Rock Nine attempted to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, as part of the desegregation mandate. However, Governor Orval Faubus deployed the National Guard to prevent their entry, showcasing the resistance to integration. -
Greensboro Sit ins
The Greensboro Sit-Ins began on February 1, 1960, when four African American college students—Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Billy Smith, and David Richmond—protested segregation at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. They were denied service due to their race but remained seated in peaceful protest. Their actions inspired a larger movement, leading to more sit-ins across the country. -
Ruby Bridges
On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to integrate an all-white school in the South, attending William Frantz Elementary in New Orleans. Escorted by federal marshals due to hostility from segregationists, she was the only student in her class for most of the year, taught by Barbara Henry, the only teacher willing to educate her. Ruby’s bravery became a powerful symbol of the civil rights movement. -
Freedom Riders
On May 4, 1961, 13 Freedom Riders set out to challenge bus segregation. Over the summer, 436 individuals joined 60 rides, facing violent attacks. Organized by CORE and SNCC, the rides exposed the harsh realities of segregation. Their efforts led to federal desegregation of public transportation. -
March on Washington
On August 28, 1963, 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. to peacefully and respectfully protest for jobs and freedom. Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, which was the last speech of the day -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
On July 2, 1964, MLK + LBJ, this took place in Washington D.C. It allowed the federal government to prevent racial discrimination and segregation on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin in private businesses and public and private facilities. -
Assassination of Malcom X
On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City while preparing to speak. His murder was carried out by three gunmen, one of whom, Thomas Hagan, was captured at the scene. Malcolm's death reflected the intense divisions within the civil rights movement, particularly following his split from the Nation of Islam. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches ( Bloody Sunday)
The Selma to Montgomery marches were a series of three protest marches that took place in early 1965 aimed at defending voting rights for African Americans in the South. The marches became iconic events of the Civil Rights Movement, particularly the violent confrontation known as
"Bloody Sunday. -
Voting Rights Act (1965)
On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. This legislation aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. It prohibited practices such as literacy tests and ensured federal oversight of voter registration. The Act significantly expanded access to the electoral process for millions of Americans. -
Assassaination of Martin Luther King
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray fired a single shot from a nearby building, striking King while he was on the balcony. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. King's assassination led to widespread outrage and uprisings across the country. Ray was captured later that year, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.