-
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The case combined lawsuits from several states, with Oliver Brown as the lead plaintiff. The Court’s unanimous decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring that “separate but equal” schools were inherently unequal. -
Murder of Emmet Till
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago, was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman. He was kidnapped, beaten, and shot before his body was thrown into the Tallahatchie River. His killers, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, were acquitted by an all-white jury. Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, held an open-casket funeral to show the world his mutilated body, sparking outrage and fueling the Civil Rights Movement. -
Rosa parks boycott
The Rosa Parks boycott, also known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, began in 1955 after Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest sparked a year-long boycott of the city's bus system, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The boycott brought national attention to the civil rights movement, ultimately leading to the Supreme Court's decision to desegregate public transportation. -
Southern Christian leadership conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was founded in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders to advance the cause of racial equality through nonviolent protest. The SCLC played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement, organizing events like the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington. It sought to challenge segregation, discrimination, and injustice, advocating for social change rooted in Christian values and the principles of nonviolence. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African American students who enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas in 1957, following the Brown v. Board of Education decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Despite facing violent opposition and hostility, they persevered, becoming symbols of courage in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Greensboro sit ins
The Greensboro Sit-ins were a series of peaceful protests that began on February 1, 1960, at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Four African American students—Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil—sat at the "whites-only" counter, demanding service. Their act of civil disobedience sparked widespread protests across the country, challenging segregation and igniting the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). -
Ruby bridges
Ruby Bridges was a courageous young girl who became the first African American to integrate an all-white public school in the South. At just six years old, she faced intense hostility and protests when she attended William Frantz Elementary in New Orleans in 1960. Despite the adversity, Ruby's bravery and determination made her a symbol of the civil rights movement. Her journey helped pave the way for desegregation in schools across the United States. -
Freedom riders
The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South in 1961 to challenge racial discrimination. They aimed to test Supreme Court rulings that banned segregation on buses and in bus terminals. Facing violence arrests and threats the riders remained nonviolent, drawing national attention to injustice. Their bravery helped push the federal government to enforce desegregation laws, making them key figures in the Civil Rights Movement’s fight for equalit -
March on Washington
The March on Washington took place on August 28, 1963, as a massive civil rights demonstration for jobs and freedom. Over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The march demanded an end to segregation, fair wages, and voting rights. It played a crucial role in pushing for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making it a historic moment for equality in America. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark law that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and outlawed employment discrimination, strengthening the fight for equality. Championed by President Lyndon B. Johnson after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the act faced strong opposition but passed due to persistent activism. It became a major victory of the Civil Rights Movement, reshaping American society and promoting justice. -
Voting rights act (1965)
The Voting Rights Act is a landmark federal law enacted in 1965 to remove race-based restrictions on voting. It is perhaps the country's most important voting rights law, with a history that dates to the Civil War. -
Assasination of MalcomX
Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Three gunmen from the Nation of Islam shot him multiple times, killing him instantly. Once a prominent Nation of Islam leader, Malcolm had recently broken from the group and embraced a broader vision of racial unity. His death was a tragic loss, but his powerful speeches and ideas continue to inspire movements for justice and equality -
Selma to Montegomery Marches (Bloody Sunday)
The Selma to Montgomery marches, held in 1965, were pivotal events in the Civil Rights Movement. Led by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., activists marched to demand voting rights for African Americans, following the violent suppression of a peaceful protest on "Bloody Sunday." The marches highlighted racial injustice and garnered national attention, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a significant milestone in the fight for civil rights in the United States. -
Assassination of MLK Jr
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. He was shot by James Earl Ray, sparking nationwide riots and mourning. King, a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, had been advocating for racial justice and economic equality. His death was a tragic loss, but his legacy of nonviolence and equality continues to inspire movements for justice around the world.