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Plessy vs Ferguson Court Case Ends In Favour Of Ferguson
On this day the end of the Plessy vs Ferguson case resulted in the continuation of segregation until the 1950's. The case was held in protest of the segregation laws of the US; as Plessy had been arrested for breaking segregation law. Plessy's lawyers argued that segregation was unconstitutional under both the 13th and 14th amendment of the US constitution, as the facilities provided to coloured people were inferior to those provided to whites; and there was little equality in other areas. -
Racial Discrimination Banned In The US Armed Forces
On this day, via executive orver 9981, President Harry S. Truman ordered that racial discrimination and segregation in the US Armed Forces was to be abolished. This order was precceded by another order (8802) sent on June 25th, 1941 by President Franklin D Roosevelt which ordered for equal treatment and employment in defense industries. -
Brown vs Board Of Education Court Case Ends In Favour of Brown
On this day a court case was won by African-Americans against the US Board Of Education in regards to segregation in schools. The Supreme Court of the US ruled that segregation in school was agains the 14th Amendment of the US constitution as the facilities given to African-American children were inferior to those white children had access to. This was the beginning of the end of segregation. -
Emmet Till Is Murdered
On this day a young African-American boy named Emet Till was taken from his home and shortly after brutally murdered by two white racists. Emmet was visiting his relatives in Mississippi from Chicago; and was not aware of how his actions would be taken by whites. His murderers were let free after an extremely biased court case; but his funeral was broadcasted worldwide and raised awareness to the situation of African-Americans in the south around the world. -
Rosa Parks Is Arrested
On this day Rosa Parks, a middle aged African-American resident of Montgomery, Alabama was arrested for refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white person. This lead to many African-American civil rights groups joining together with the residents of Montgomery to stage the Mongomery Bus Boycotts. -
Montgomery Bus Boycotts Begin
This day was the first day of the Montgomery Bus Boycott; a time when many African-American residents of the southern city of Montgomery, Alabama held a boycott against the city's bus services to protests against segregation on public transport, as well as segregation as a whole. The Boycotters also met daily at a local church to sing, pray and listen to speeches by preachers, including Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Instead of taking the busses, the boycotters mostly either carpooled or walked. -
Montgomery Bus Boycotts End
After 381 days of protest, many court cases and the attempted assasintation of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and his family, the bus boycotts were finally ended; following a rulng by the supreme court which stated that segregation on public transport (as well as other forms of segregtion) were unlawful and unconsitutional. -
Central Highschool, Little Rock Desegregted
On this day nine African American Students (known as the Little Rock Nine) began their first day in a non-segregated school. One student, Elizabeth Eckford, was followed by an angry mod to school, and all nine were met with another mob and Arkansas National Guardsmen preventing the students from using the main door (so they had to enter through the side). To avoid violence President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorised for military troops to guard the students as well as thier current police escort. -
The Washington D.C. Civil Rights March (I Have A Dream Speech)
On this day somewhere between 200 000 and 300 000 people (about 4/5 of those attending were African-Amercica) marched in the US capital city of Washington D.C. for civil rights. One of the highlights of this event was Dr Martin Luther King Jr's famous 'I have a dream' speech. The rally served to help pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. -
The 1964 Civil Rights Act Is Enacted
On this day the American Civil Rights Act is encacted by US Presdent Lyndon B. Johnson. The act criminalised discrimination based on race, colour of skin, sex, religion or nationality. It banned segregation of schools, workplaces, public facilities and any other areas where segregation still existed; as well as giving minorities a greater ablity to vote. This Act was preceded by the 1957 act, which began the desegregation of certain areas (e.g. schools). -
Malcom X Is Assassinated
During a rally the African-American civil rights activist Malcom X was shot dead; supposedly by an African-American belonging to a rival Muslim group of Malcom X's. Malcom X is renowned for being a much more violent and anti-peace activist than Dr Martin Luther King Jr; being reffered to as 'the angriest black man in America". He founded and/or was active in many dozens of civil rights groups; both peaceful and militant. -
Assassination Of Dr Martin Luther King Jr
On this day Dr Martin Luther KIng Jr was shot at his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee; apparently by the then escaped prison fugetivve James Earl Ray. Dr King was officially pronouced dead just over an hour later. Dr King was in Memphis to assist in the protests of African-American Sanitation workers. -
Black Power Salute by African American Atheletes At 1968 Mexico City Olympics
On this day two African-American atheletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gave the black power salute (a raised fist) at their medal ceremony during the American National Anthem live on TV around the world. The third althele, and Australian named Peter Norman, did not salute but wore a badge promoting Civil Rights. -
First African-American Governor Of A US State
On this day Governor Douglas Wilder was elected as the 66th Governor of Virginia. He was the first African-American Governor of any US state. Prior to his appointment he was also the first African-American to hold a state-wide position in government (as Lieutennant Governor from 1986 until his election as Governor) He served as governor of Virginia until 1994. -
Police Officers Aquitted Following Brutal Attack On Rodney King: Riots Follow
On this day four police officers form the Los Angeles Police Department were aquited of all charges after they were caught on camera brutally beating an African-American man (Rodney King) following a car chase. The verdict was seen as unfair by many people; with riots breaking out across Los Angeles. Rioters began looting shops and attacking white people and people of other ethnecities The riots lasted almost a week; with a total of 59 deaths, ~2000 injuries and ~10000 arrests. -
First African-American President Inaugurated
On this day the 44th President Of The United States , Hawaiian born former senator for the state of Illinois Barack Hussein Obama (Jr), was formaly inaugurated into office as the first African-American president. He was later re-elected as president in 2012, and is currently still in office.
