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Brown vs Board of Education
Oliver Brown and other African American families sued the Topeka, Kansas school board because their children were forced to attend inferior, segregated schools. The Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional, leading to school integration and a major boost to the civil rights movement. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmet Till, a 14-year-old African American, was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. Accused of flirting with a white woman, he was kidnapped, tortured, and killed by her relatives. Despite overwhelming evidence, his killers were acquitted, sparking widespread outrage and galvanizing the civil rights movement. -
Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks stood up for her rights in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus tot a white men. Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was led by Martin Luther King Jr. For over a year, African Americans stopped riding buses to protest segregation. This boycott hurt the transportation system financially and caught national attention. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was illegal. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1957. led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy, the organization used nonviolent resistance to fight segregation and racial injustice. Their efforts helped pass major civil rights laws in the 11960s. -
Little Rock Nine
In 1957, jive brave African-American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. Despite facing opposition from the governor and violent harassment, they persevered with the help of federal troops sent by President Eisenhower. Their courage paved the way for schools integration in the United States. -
Greensboro Sit-in
I’m 1960, four college students from North Carolina AT University sparked the sit-in-movement in Greensboro. They peacefully protested segregation by sitting at a Woolworth’s lunch counter and refusing to leave. Their brave act inspired a wave of similar protests across the country, ultimately leading to the desegregation of many restaurants and businesses. -
Ruby Bridges
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges made history by becoming the first African-American student to attend a white school in New Orleans. Despite facing intense protests and threats, Ruby bravely walked into school everyday. With the support of her parents and the NAACP, Ruby persevered, and her courage helped pave the way for schools integration in integration in the United States. -
Freedom Riders
In 1961, the Freedom Riders, a group of brave activists from different racial backgrounds, traveled through the Southern United States by bus. They challenged segregation at bus stations, despite it being illegal. Facing violent attacks and indifference from authorities, the Freedom Riders drew national attention, forcing the federal government to step in. Their efforts led to the enforcement of laws banning segregation in interstate transportation -
March on Washington
The March on Washington took place on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and A. Philip Randolph, over 250,000 people gathered to demand equal rights for African Americans. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech was a highlight of the event, which helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a law that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Supported by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., it was promoted by President John F. Kennedy and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This law protected equal rights in public places, employment, voting, and school integration, marking a major milestone in the US civil rights movement. -
Assassination of Malcom X
On February 21, 1965, while giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York, he was shot multiple times in front of a crowd by three members of the Nation of Islam, a group he had previously belonged to. The tensions leading up to his murder stemmed from his separation from the Nation of Islam. His death had a profound impact on the civil rights movement in the United States. -
Selma Montgomery Marches (Bloody Sunday)
In March 1965, the Selma to Montgomery marches took place in Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. The marches demanded voting rights for African Americans. The first march, known as Bloody Sunday, was violently disrupted by police, but a third march eventually reached Montgomery with thousands of participants. These protests helped pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark law promoted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr. It banned discriminatory practices like literacy tests, and allowed federal supervision in areas with a history of voter suppression. As a result, millions of African Americans gained the right to vote. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray was arrested and convicted of the murder. King's death led to protests and riots in several US cities. Despite his death, King's legacy continued to inspire the fight for civil rights and racial justice.