Civil Rights Timeline

  • Jim crow laws

    Jim crow laws
    In 1896 the Jim Crow law was enforced. This law was created for Plessy v. Ferguson in the Supreme Court. It enforced segregation and was something that would impact African Americans. This would later end in 1964 with the help of Civil rights throughout history.
  • End of WW2

    Although the ending of WW2 gave black anti-fascism wider traction in American society, African Americans got more job opportunities. People began to demand equality, while others opposed it like never before. It invited a time to right for everyone's rights, which lead to the Civil Rights Movement.
  • end of segregation in armed forces

    On July 26, 1948, President Truman issued an executive order to end segregation. This was specifically in the arm forces and it was called Order 9981. In this order it said “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.” Truman was very vocal to end racial segregation and with having one way to start in the work force would help us end segregation over the world.
  • Rosa parks arrested

    On December 1, 1955, an African American named Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. With her getting arrested it caused people to get involved in this issue with segregations Because of Rosa deciding to stand up for herself it caused Civil rights movement to get a rolling.
  • Little Rock nine

    Little Rock nine
    9 high school students attended Little Rock Central high school and was the desegregation of the high school. They encountured a large mob outside of the high school and were protected by soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard.
  • Voting rights protected

    Voting rights protected
    The Civil rights act was enforced on September 9, 1957, to protect rights or American Americans. This act would impact to get rid of segregation in businesses, theaters, restaurants, and hotels.
  • Ruby Bridges going to elementary school

    On November 14, 1960, a 6-year-old girl named Ruby Bridges was the first black African American to go tall-white public school. She went to William Frantz Elementary School where she had to be escorted by federal marshals every day after school. She would impact by helping with the civil rights movement and she showed that people don’t need to be separated by the color of their skin. Especially for education because everyone deserves to have one.
  • The Problem We All Live With

    The Problem We All Live With
    His painting was inspired by Ruby Bridgers attending New Orleans first court- ordered intergraded elementary school. This painting was intended to spread awareness of how difficult, yet important desegregation was.
  • Malcom x assaniation

    In 1965, Malcom X was with his 4 daughters and pregnant wife. He was giving a speech in Manhattan when 3 members of the Nation of Islam gunned him down. His wife and kids fled for cover, and he died quickly. Malcom X once said, “I probably am a dead man already.” He lived his life unashamed and proud of who he was, and he was fearless while encouraging others to be as well.
  • Selma March

    Selma March
    In Alabama, 3 protest marches along the 54-mile highway to Montgomery for three days. Marchers wanted rights to vote, so they protested in need for equality. Instead, they were met with harsh and violent antics from police and authorities. Nonetheless, this just fueled the fire of protesters, and many continued their non-stop march.
  • First black Mayor of Newark, New Jersey

    In 1970, Kenneth Gibson is elected as the first Black mayor of Newark, New Jersey. We see a big change in people in the house of politics after this election. More people who are black start taking roles that they couldn't do before.
  • First Black American to visit space

    In 1979 a man named Col. Guion “Guy” Bluford, was a American JR was a aerospace engineer. He went on the space on the shuttle called the Challenger. He was the first African American to go into space. Him going into space helped with impacting African Americans on how they can do these jobs too. After his career we see a bunch people with different ethnicities go into space.
  • First Black Miss America

    In 1983 Vanesa Williams becomes the first Miss America. She is crowned at age 20 and wins for New York. She makes an impact on the African Americans showing this is something all women can do. As the years go on we see more young women start winning Miss America that are African American.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Statue

    After two decades of planning the Martin Luther King JR statue is built on August 22, 2011. This statue was inspired by MLK’s “I have a dream” speech when he was in Washington. This statue is the first black statue. This is a great representation showing all of the work that MLK did for African Americans and wanted everyone to be able to have a representation on his very impactful speech.
  • Elizabeth Eckford after civil rights movement

    Became a probation officer in little Rock. Awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. Shared the Father Joseph Blitz award with Hazel Massery. An Elizabeth Eckford commemorative bench dedicated at the corner of park and 16th streets. She received the Community Truth Teller award from the Arkansas Community Institute.
  • Rosa Parks after Civil rights movement

    She received the congressional gold medal of Honor. Rosa and Raymond Park Institute was established to offer job training for black youth. Given many awards by the NAACP like the Martin Luther king Jr. Award and the Michigan Womens Hall of Fame.
  • Ruby Bridges after civil rights movement

    She established the Ruby Bridges Foundation. It promoted change and tolerance through education. She was made an honorary deputy marshal in a ceremony. Bronze statue of her in the Courtyard of William Frantz Elementary School. Awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 by President Bill Clinton.
  • First black secretary of state

    In 2001 George W. Bush elected Collin Powell to be secretary. Later he is appointed as secretary of state-Texas. He shows the African American community, with him being the first African American to be secretary, that they too can do something like this.
  • Barack Obama first African American as President

    Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president in 2009. He was the first African American president. He stood for African Americans to get more education access and better wages for work. He was also a won a Nobel Peace Prize. He paved the way for African Americans that they can step into areas especially politics and make an impacts on others.
  • George Floyd death

    In 2020, when the world was under covid lock-down, a shocking event happened in Minnesota. A man named George Floyd died to a police officer. Social media raised awareness on this issue and caused people to step up to raise awareness on the horrible event. This shows how social media during this time impacted people.