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14th Amendment
On this day, the fourteenth amendment to the United States of America Constitution was ratified. It states that all people who born or naturalized in America are considered citizens of the country, no matter their race or skin color. This also made all formerly-enslaved people citizens of America. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
It was a supreme court case in which the "separate but equal" doctrine was instated. While the 14th Amendment had granted white and colored people the same rights, this supreme court case proved through its support of Jim Crow Laws and racial segregation, that separation between the races would exist. 04/13/1896 - 05/18/1896 -
NAACP created
The NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was created on this date. It was, and still is, an organization that details, advocated, and fights for the equal civil rights of all American people. It was founded after the continuous horrific violence against black people across America during that time period, and is the largest such organization to this day. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The boycott was a statement by African Americans across the country as they stopped riding any of the city-instated buses. Rosa Parks was arrested after she did not get up to give her seat on a city bus to a white man, which was what prompted the start of the boycott. 12/05/1955 - 12/20/1956 -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock 9 were one of the crucial points for the advocation for equal education of black children. the students fought back again the public school system and how they were segregated from their white classmates, and treated as they were beneath them. They got their name from their school, which was called Little Rock Central High School. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
This act was the first one of its kind, and was passed under the presidency of President Eisenhower. This act created a section specifically for the pursuit of Civil Rights violations in the Judicial Branch. Furthermore, it was created with mind to protect the legal rights of black people across the country. It more clearly shaped the goal of the Civil Rights Movement, and gave it government support in a way like never before. It inspired many to join hands with the movement. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) formed
The SNCC, or the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, was formed in order to influence and inspire the youth of America to join hands and to advocate against racial segregation and racism. The members were managers and members of events such as the March on Washington and the numerous sit-ins that took place around the country. -
Freedom Riders
The civil rights activists, who dubbed themselves the Freedom Riders, were activists who rode on buses throughout their own respective state in order to protest against the Morgan v. Virginia and the Boynton v. Virginia cases. Both cases stated that dividing and segregating white and colored people on these buses was constitutional. 05/04/1961 - 12/10/1961 -
Dr. King’s: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
After being arrested, from his jail cell, Dr. King wrote a letter. In the letter, he detailed his opinions about the current state of the Civil Rights Movement, and how he believed that all people are responsible to fight against laws that aren't just, and act on their beliefs. They cannot just wait for reform to happen, they need to actively take part. He stated that in order for black people to be treated equally and to stop being oppressed, they need to stand together and take action now. -
March on Washington: “I have a dream” speech
One of the most iconic speeches of all time, Dr. King gave his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Washington Monument. Spectators gathered in the thousands. He detailed how he dreamed about equality between colored and white people, where opportunity would be sanctioned without regarding race. He states how the Emancipation Proclamation was declared a hundred years ago and yet black people are still not free. The speech was a majorly important moment in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was an act which put a stop to discrimination from religious affiliation, gender, nationality, or race. It was a game changer which accelerated the Civil Rights Movement, and stopped the power of Jim Crow Laws. Colored people across America were finally treated as equals in public places, as is their birthright. The act was proposed by President John F. Kennedy, and deemed the current treatment of colored people as unconstitutional. -
Chicano Movement (Mural Movement)
The Chicano Movement (Mural Movement) was a movement in which artists across America created murals on walls of schools, houses, churches and more in efforts to show Mexican culture throughout the country. -
March from Selma, Alabama
The March from Selma, Alabama took place during a time where Alabama (a Southern state) had deep roots in discrimination against colored people. Even though African-Americans already legally had the right to vote, they were still denied voting and discriminated against. The march was a non-violent protest that took place, and its main goal was to advocate for the right of African American citizens to be able to vote. 03/07/1965 - 03/21/1965 -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
As assisted by movements such as the march from Selma, Alabama, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was put in place by President Lyndon Johnson shortly after. The act stated that all minority groups in the United States would also have the opportunity to vote, and that all discrimination and discriminatory treatment towards them which stopped them from voting is illegal. -
Black Panthers
The Black Panthers, also known as the Black Panther Party, was an organization which was created by two black college students. The party monitored police, but was also known for i's sometimes violent encounters with the police which has led to the deaths of police and Black Panther members. The party changed how Civil Rights were advocated for, as it was not against using violence. It had thousands of members, and created an upheaval on all accounts. -
American Indian Movement (AIM)
The American Indian Movement was a movement started in order to advocate for the US Government to recognize the American Indians as sovereigns, with their own customs and regulations. They called for their land to be given back to them, and help for all the American Indians who were living in poverty. The movement was in part inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, as they engaged in peaceful protests in order to fight for their liberties. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
MLK was one of, if not the most, pivotal figure of the Civil Rights Movement. He inspired thousands of people across the world to take a stand for the rights of themselves, and those of their friends and families as well. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray, who received a sentence of 99 years. Even after his death, with his advocation of civil disobedience and non violence, the Civil Rights Movement continued, and today, colored people and white people are equal. -
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) proposed
This amendment was passed by the Senate and then to the states. This amendment was first brought up by the National Women's Political Party way back in 1923, but wasn't officiated until 1972. The amendment detailed that both genders were equal in that terms of legal prospects, and had equal rights. -
Sandra Day O’Connor appointed to the Supreme Court
President Reagan instated Sandra Day O'Connor to the highest court, Supreme Court. She served there for twenty-five years, and went on to be a part of majorly influential decisions for the United States. The Civil Rights movement in part was the cause of numerous reforms, and due to this enlightened time period, the rights of women were also advocated for. O'Connor went on to inspire thousands of girls across the country, and thus decreased the gap between male and female law students. -
Sonia Sotomayor appointed to the Supreme Court
Nominated by President Barack Obama, in 2009, and became the associate justice of the Supreme Court. She became the first Latina and Hispanic member of the Supreme Court. The nomination took place in the Senate in a vote of 68 to 31, and thus she started service. She particularly was involved in issues of ethnic and gender identity, as well as race and the rights of defendants.