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Jackie Robison joins the Dogers
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American in the major leagues when he played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was a great achievement for the African Americans in the segregated society of that time because for the first time in history a man of color was playing the game of America in the major leagues. -
Executive Order 9881
The Executive Order 9981 was an executive order passed on July 26, 1948, by President Harry S. Truman. It eliminated racial discrimination in the United States Armed Forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the military. Without doubt this Executive Order marked a great victory for African Americans trying to obtain their rights. -
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a turning point for segregation in the U.S. because the Supreme Court case declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. This was a mojor step in education because many young African American children would obtain better education. -
March on Washington
The march on Washington D.C. was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in U.S. history. There standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech in which he called for an end to racism. This event motivated millions of both African Americans and Whites to join the fight for Equal Rights. -
24th Amendment passes
Before the 24th Amendment passed, citizens in some states had to pay a fee to vote in a national election known as poll tax. On January 23, 1964, the United States ratified the 24th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting any poll tax in elections for federal officials. This amendment truly helped the poor African Americans who couldn't afford the poll tax. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Right Act was passed to outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public. Truly the Act guaranteed more equal rights to the African Americans. -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965. It aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This act truly allowed African Americans to practice their right to vote without fear. -
Executive Order 11246
The Executive Order 11246 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1965. It established requirements for non-discriminatory practices in hiring and employment on the part of U.S. government contractors. With that Executive Order African Americans were able to legally get better jobs. -
Loving v. Virginia
Mildred Loving, a black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, who was sentenced to a year in prison in Virginia for marrying each other. When the case reached the Supreme Court, the court declared that this prohibition was unconstitutional, ending all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States. This decision increased the happiness of African Americans because they could marry anyone they love regardless of their race. -
MLK assassination
Martin Luther King, Jr., was an American clergyman and civil rights leader who fought for the equality of African Americans. He was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday, April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. King was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he later died. He was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement and use of nonviolence and civil disobedience marked the beginning of a fight that later granted justice to African Americans.
