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Period: to
1950's
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Sweatt v. Painter
Sweatt v. Painter was a 1950 Supreme Court case that struck down segregation in law schools, paving the way for integration in other educational institutions. -
Keys v. Carolina Coach
Keys v. Carolina Coach was a 1955 Supreme Court case that challenged the “separate but equal” standard of segregation in interstate travel, leading to the desegregation of bus and train stations. -
Emmett Till's Murder
Emmett Till was murdered in 1955 after allegedly flirting with a white woman. -
Creation of the Montgomery Improvement Association
The Montgomery Improvement Association was founded in 1955 in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks, organizing the Montgomery bus boycott and helping to spark a national civil rights movement. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in December of that year and lasted over a year, ending in 1956 when the Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses unconstitutional. -
Founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was founded in 1957 by Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders in the civil rights movement to coordinate nonviolent protest and advocacy for change. -
Little Rock Nine Crisis
The Little Rock Nine Crisis, in 1957, was the integration of nine African American students into Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas following the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. The students faced intense opposition and violence from white segregationists, leading to the intervention of the federal government and the eventual integration of the school. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
In September 1957, the Civil Rights Act was passed. -
Cooper v. Aaron
In 1958, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Cooper v. Aaron, affirming the power of the judiciary to enforce its rulings and mandating the integration of schools under Brown v. Board of Education. -
Period: to
1960's
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Greensboro Sit-In
In 1960, the Greensboro Sit-In sparked a wave of similar protests throughout the South. -
Albany Campaign
The Albany Campaign, designed to challenge segregation in Georgia, took place in 1961. -
Freedom Riders
In 1961, Freedom Rides occurred, pushing for the enforcement of the desegregation of buses. -
Integration of the University of Mississippi
The integration of the University of Mississippi was a significant event in the civil rights movement. In 1962, the enrollment of James Meredith, a black student, sparked riots and violence, but ultimately resulted in the desegregation of the university. -
Birmingham Movement
The Birmingham Movement in 1963 used nonviolent protests to force desegregation. -
Assassination of Medgar Evars
Medgar Evers was a Civil Rights activist who was shot and killed outside of his home in Jackson, Mississippi on June 12, 1963 by white separatist Byron De La Beckwith. His death became a galvanizing force for the Civil Rights Movement and helped propel the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a civil rights march held in 1963 in Washington, D.C. It was organized to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans and is widely remembered for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Mississippi Freedom Summer
The Mississippi Freedom Summer was a civil rights campaign in 1964 that aimed to increase African American voter registration in Mississippi by organizing and training volunteers. The campaign faced significant opposition from white supremacists and authorities but ultimately resulted in the registration of thousands of African American voters. -
Northern Violence over School Integration
During the 1950s and 1960s, many Northern cities saw violence erupt over efforts to desegregate public schools. This violence was often fueled by racism and fears about property values and neighborhood change. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. US
The Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. US in 1964 prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
On February 21, 1965, civil rights leader Malcolm X was assassinated during a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of the murder. -
March from Selma to Montgomery
The March from Selma to Montgomery took place in 1965 to advocate for voting rights, which were secured with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a federal law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting practices. It aimed to eliminate barriers that prevented African Americans and other minority groups from exercising their right to vote. -
James Meredith’s March Against Fear
In 1966, James Meredith’s March Against Fear resulted in a shooting that injured him. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
President Lyndon Johnson utilized this national tragedy to urge for the bill's speedy Congressional approval. -
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing, was passed in 1968. -
Period: to
1970's
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Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
In 1971, Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools ruled that busing was a legal way to achieve integration. -
Shirley Chisolm’s Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman to run for the presidency of the United States, in the 1972 election. Her campaign focused on issues such as civil rights, education, and women's rights. Despite facing discrimination and opposition, Chisholm's historic campaign paved the way for future generations of women and people of color to seek public office. -
Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record
Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record on April 8, 1974, hitting his 715th home run in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Aaron held the record for 33 years until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2007. -
Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention
In 1976, Barbara Jordan delivered a stirring keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, becoming the first African American woman to do so and calling for unity and inclusion. -
University of California Regents vs. Bakke
The Supreme Court case of University of California Regents v. Bakke in 1978 ruled that race-based affirmative action was permissible, but strict racial quotas in college admissions were unconstitutional.