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Brown vs Board of Education
Brown V. The Board of Education is a case that changed equality in the USA. Linda Brown, daughter of Oliver Brown, was a girl who wanted to go to a nearby school in Topeka, Kansas. The only issue: the school was “white only.” This caused the Browns, with the help of the NAACP, to sue. They deemed that racial segregation was unconstitutional under the 14th amendment. Eventually the Browns won the case, and the Supreme Court unanimously ruled on May 17th, 1954 that separate was not equal. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was a 14 year old boy who offended a white woman, Carolyn Bryant in a grocery store located in Money, Mississippi. It is possible Emmit whistled at her which caused her family to feel enraged. Her husband, Roy Bryant and his half brother, J.W. Milam kidnapped and killed Emmett on August 28th, 1955. Then they disposed of his body in the Tallahatchie River. After news got out, the murder of Emmett Tills became a symbol of racism and need for change in the South. -
Rosa Parks Bus Boycott
On December 1st, 1954, in Montgomery Alabama, Rosa parks, a black woman refused to give up her seat for a white man when at the time it was customary to do so. After being asked to stand or move, Rosa declined and stayed seated. Eventually she was arrested. This act of defiance caused a huge movement of bus boycotting which was vital for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The SCLC was an organization founded in Atlanta, Georgia. It was linked to black churches, and their founder was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this group 60 black ministers were involved in organizing civil rights activism. The SCLC organized nonviolent protests combating segregation. The SCLC and their protests played key roles for the march on Washington, voting rights, and Selma to Montgomery marches. -
Little Rock 9
On September 4th, 1957, nine black students attempted to attend a white school located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Immediately they were attacked and harassed by violent mobs. They were even blocked from entering the school. Eventually the President sent men to escort and protect the Little Rock Nine. After a while some students left, while others stayed, even though they were constantly facing racism and struggles. Their bravery in the face of adversity was inspirational. -
Greensboro Sit Ins
On February 1st, 1960, in Greensboro, North Carolina, four black college students sat at a whites only lunch counter. They refused to leave. Their determination created a movement. More and more students started protesting, and even people from other cities. Eventually Woolworth (the counter) served a black person, and this marked a significant victory in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges was a black girl who on November 14th, 1960 enrolled in an all white school, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Many people opposed Ruby’s attendance causing her to receive government escorts. The only teacher that taught Ruby was Barbara Henry. Ruby would be the only girl in her class but she did not let that stop her. She became a symbol for bravery. -
Freedom Riders
The Freedom Riders were a civil rights group consisting of 436 people and multiple groups like NAACP and CORE. On May 4, 1961, they set on a journey from D.C. to southern states via bus. They did this to challenge the lack of desegregation of public transport in the south despite the S.C. Ruling. On the way they faced violence and attacks. The stories made headlines, and so the government began enforcing desegregation in the south. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington took place on August, 28th 1963. Over 250k people marched in the streets of Washington D.C. The people protested respectfully for jobs and freedom. At the end, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. He called for an end to racism. This march, and speech played a key role in the journey for gaining civil rights. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act was made into law on July 2nd, 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This happened in Washington, D.C. after multiple events and civil rights leaders such as MLK pushed for this. This law enabled the federal government to prevent racial discrimination and segregation based on race, color, religion, or national origin in private businesses and public facilities. This was one of the biggest achievements in the fight for Civil Rights, and was a major step forward. -
Assassination of Malcom X
Malcom X was a civil rights activist, that was a former leader of the Nation of Islam. Eventually he left the religion and even criticized it. This led to backlash and violence from the religion. On February 21, 1965 in the Audubon Ballroom in New York, NY Malcom Was shot. He was shot 21 times while preparing to give a speech in front of a large audience including his wife and children. Malcom was very influential in the fight for Civil Rights. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches (Bloody Sunday)
The SCLC and John Lewis led the protests/marches that aimed to travel from Selma, Alabama to the state capital. They protested for voting rights of Black Americans. On march seventh, 1965, a peaceful march was taking place and then disaster broke loose. Suddenly the protesters were being violently attacked by the police. This day became known as Bloody Sunday, and had a huge impact on the nation. This raised the support for civil rights. -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B Johnson. The act was signed on August 6th, 1965 in Washington D.C. The voting rights act made it more equal for Black populations to votes. It would ban literacy tests, poll taxes, and make voting a federal matter instead of a state one. This would allow more Black Americans to be represented through voting and was a crucial achievement for civil rights. -
Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. was the most prominent leader of the Civil Rights movement. He was responsible for many organizations, marches, and protests. Due to his influence he was also very hated and targeted. This would cause James Earl Ray to assassinate MLK on April 4, 1968 in the Lorraine Motel located in Memphis, Tennessee. King was shot on the balcony, and his assassination, for many, marked the end of the Civil Rights Movement.