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Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow laws were a series of regulations, primarily in the South. It enforced racial segregation, completely discriminating against African Americans and non-white individuals.The Brown v. Board of Education challenged the legality of racial segregation in schools, leading to later Civil Rights Movement actions and federal laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, It effectively ended the Jim Crow laws and took steps toward racial equality in the U.S. -
African Americans in WW2
African Americans during World War 2 made significant contributions despite facing racial segregation and discrimination.The military was largely segregated, with black soldiers serving in separate units from white people. These experiences during the war fueled the post-war civil rights movement, as African Americans fought to address racial injustice and inequality in American society. -
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson stood as a pivotal figure in American history, notably for shattering the racial barrier in professional baseball. In 1947, he became a part of the Brooklyn Dodgers, bravely confronting the racial segregation.Outside of baseball, Jackie actively championed civil rights and social justice, bringing his influence. A quote from Jackie: “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me … all I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” -
Trumans Executive Order 9981
President Truman issued Executive Order 9981. Wanting to end racial segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces. This declared that all individuals in the military should receive equal treatment and opportunities regardless of their race, color, religion. This led to the creation of Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. Its purpose was to have fair treatment. This marked a milestone in the fight against racial discrimination within the military. -
Brown v. Board of Education
There was a rule called "separate but equal" that allowed African American children to be separated in school from white children. We find out that African American schools were not equal to white schools and were unconstitutional. -
Murder Of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was a 14 year old African American boy who was brutally murdered for supposedly whistled at a white women. At his funeral he had an open casket which led the public to see how badly he was assaulted because of racism. This caused many people to join the civil rights movement to fight for justice -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was an African American woman who was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for refusing to get up from her seat for a white passenger. After this incident African Americans organized a boycott to demand an end of racial segregation in city busses. To do so they either carpooled or walked to their destination instead of riding the bus. -
Sit-In movement
The sit-in movement was a nonviolent way to fight for segregation. To do so African Americans would go to places that only served whites and sit down. They would refuse to move or be violent even when they were being attacked by whites. This movement grew overtime and eventually thousands of African Americans were participating. -
Freedom rides
The freedom ride movement was a protest for segregation at bus terminals, restrooms, and other transportation. The movement was made up of different races, age, and gender. The ride went through the south even though in 1960 the Supreme Court had made it a rule that segregation in interstate transportation was unconstitutional. They received many threats but it was worth it in the end when Attorney General Robert Kennedy demanded discharge of the law -
March Against Fear
James Meredith planned a march for the public to notice the fear African Americans had felt when they were voting. The march was from Memphis. Tennessee to Jackson Mississippi which is about 220 miles. Many were injured and shot during this but that didn't stop them. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Johnson. It was to eliminate segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin.It made it illegal to discriminate in public places, schools, workplaces, and any institution receiving federal funding. This landmark Act represented a significant victory in the civil rights movement, reshaping the legal landscape of discrimination and advance equality for all Americans. -
Selma to Montgomery March
African Americans marched from Selma to Montgomery to protest for the right to vote. During this march police were viciously attacking/killing marchers, this became known as "Bloody Sunday". This violence did not stop the protest. They marched miles but it was worth it because a few months later President Johnson put the voting rights into law. -
Freedom summer
Mississippi Summer Project, also known as, Freedom Summer was an act to help African Americans to fight for their voting rights in the south. About 15 hundred people participated like white collage students, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and core staff, clergy members, attorneys, and medical professors. They went to Mississippi because it had the lowest rate of African American voters. They continued to risk their lives to register voters, and challenge unfair voting laws. -
Black Panther
The black panther party was known for its uniform. They wore black leather jackets and berets to represent African American self defense. The party had other goals like improving the community, increasing black pride, and fighting economic exploitation. Their motivation to promote black pride influenced/inspired activists and community organizers. -
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Riots
Anger built among African Americans for being mistreated, economic inequality, and police brutality for decades. They claimed that whites didn't understand their pain. Martin Luther King, Jr. called the riots “the language of the unheard.” Damage had been done people had lost their homes, businesses, and lives. Even after all of this inequality remained. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther Kings was a civil rights movement leader who was assassinated by James Earl Ray. His death led to violence and frustration with continuing racial inequality. Thousands of people were angry, riots struck. -
Black Arts and Culture
Music genres hip-hop and rap started in the 1970's. It became a way for African Americans who felt invisible to have a voice and be heard. This is also included in art, dance, and fashion. It has a huge impact on American culture to this day. -
Election Of Barack Obama
Barack Obama was elected president in 2008. He was the first African American president. That became a milestone in the fight for equality. In 1965 there were only 6 African Americans in the House of Representatives but by 2017 there had been 49. Obama mentioned we must noticed that “the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn’t suddenly vanish in the 60s,” and people are still waiting for “the equal treatment our Founders promised.” -
Black Lives Matter Movement
Male George Zimmerman shot and killed unarmed African American teenager Trayvon Martin because he looked suspicious. Zimmerman said it was self defense, and was later found not guilty. This sprung a movement called black lives matter that was organized by young African Americans on social media. Its goal was to end racial injustice and inequality. -
Goerge Floyd
George Floyd was an African American man who died on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his arrest by police officers, one of the officers knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. Despite Floyd's begs that he couldn't breathe. Floyd lost consciousness and was subsequently pronounced dead.This caused extensive public outcry and demonstrations across the United States and globally.