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Little Rock Nine Crisis
This occurred when 9 black students were blocked from entering Little Rock Central High School by the National Guard. The president at the time interfered and ensured the student's entry.
Violence by the opposition, Acheivement -
Emmett Tills Murder
The murder of a 14-year-old black child in Missisipi. Till was brutally beaten and tortured before being killed.
Violence by opposition. Protest. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man. Lasting over a year, this showcased the power of a nonviolent protest and led to the desegregation of public transportation in her town.
This was a no violence protest. -
Brown v Board of Education
This established that segregating public schools by race was unconstitutional. This decision overturned the Plessy v Ferguson doctrine and was a significant victory in the fight for civil rights.
Legislation/Supreme Court case -
Civil Rights act of 1957
The first significant civil rights legislation passed. This aimed to ensure all black citizens could exercise their right to vote.
Legalization/Supreme Court case -
Greensboro Sit-In
A nonviolent protest against the oppression of black people in the US. Performed in public facilities, primarily lunch counters. Four black students sat at the whites only lunch counter, sparking a wave of similar protests across the country. -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a massive civil rights demonstration where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. The march demanded civil and economic rights for African Americans and called for an end to racial segregation and discrimination.
Protest. Acheivement. -
Voting Rights act of 1965
This aimed to overcome legal barriers that prevented black people from voting in the US. This prohibited discrimination in voting and significantly impacted black voter registration.
Legislation/Supreme Court case, Achievement -
Freedom Rides
The freedom rides were organized to challenge segregation in buses and terminals. Civil rights activists rode buses through the south facing violence and arrests for their cause.
Protest. Violence by protestors. -
Civil rights act of 1964
A landmark legislation regarding discrimination based on race, color, religion, and sex. This ended segregation in places and banned employment discrimination. -
Swann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
This dealt with bussing to promote integration in public schools. The ruling upheld the use of busing in students to achieve racial balance in schools.
Legislation/Supreme Court Case -
University of California Regents v. Bakke
Supreme Court case concerning affirmative action in college admissions. The Court ruled that race could be considered as one of several factors in college admissions but rejected the use of racial quotas, impacting affirmative action policies in higher education.
Supreme Court Case -
Fair housing act
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, aimed to end discrimination in housing opportunities based on race, color, religion, or national origin. It prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing, marking a significant step towards fair and equal housing rights for all Americans.
Legislation/Supreme Court Case, Achievement -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
The assassination of one of the leading civil rights activists shocked the entire nation. His death highlighted the still ongoing struggle of racial inequality in the US.
Violence by oppositon. -
Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm made history as the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress and the first African American candidate for a major party's nomination for President of the United States. Her presidential campaign in 1972 challenged the status quo and advanced the cause of civil rights and gender equality in American politics.
Protest, Achievement