-
Emmett Till's Murder
Emmett Till, then 14, was visiting his family in Mississippi when he was accused of allegedly flirting with a white woman. After learning what had transpired, the woman he "flirted" with's husband and brother took him to the Tallahatchie River where they viciously beat and killed him. His mother wanted an open-casket burial for people to witness what they did to Emmett Till. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The protest was started by a black woman called Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat for a white passenger. She was arrested for this violation and was later released on bond thanks to a local civil rights activist. About 90% of the local African American population avoided taking the buses after a flyer advertising a boycott of the buses was distributed. -
Founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Atlanta, Georgia served as the major headquarters of operations for the SCLC, a civil rights group. This group was well-known for things like Birmingham and its peaceful approach to ending all forms of racial prejudice. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The act allowed the federal government the authority to bring legal action against persons who obstructed others' ability to vote. It was also the first US Congress-passed civil rights law since the Civil Rights Act of 1875. -
Greensboro Sit-in
Four young African American boys, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil, went to Woolworth's, a diner in Greensboro where it was the law to only serve white people. They sat down at the counter and remained there until it closed. During that time, the news stations were contacted and the protest received extensive publicity. The police arrived but were powerless to intervene because there was no violence. -
Freedom Rides
Black and white activists who wanted to see if the laws and rules were being upheld in all the states came together as freedom riders. The rules were generally observed, but when they traveled to South Carolina, where there was some violence, there was an incident where a mob of white supremacists tossed a bomb into the Freedom Riders' bus in Alabama. -
Birmingham Movement
The Birmingham Movement, which involved several demonstrations against all forms of segregation in Alabama, took place in Birmingham, Alabama. This included marches and sit-in protests. When things grew heated, dogs were let loose on the protestors, and fire hoses were also used against them. -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
With an estimated 250,000 participants, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was the largest civil rights demonstration of its era. This march was held to demand freedom and employment opportunities for African Americans. There were numerous speakers throughout this March, but Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" address is the most well-known. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had a significant impact on society since it outlawed discrimination against individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or country of origin. The African Americans benefited greatly from this in terms of employment and voting rights. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
With a focus on African American voters, this law made voter discrimination illegal. Additionally, this removed all the barriers that the general public had put up for voters, such as the nearly unanswerable literacy tests. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
The individual who admitted to the assassination is James Earl Ray. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered by a white man who opposed his civil rights initiatives and sought to stop the march MLK Jr. had the following Monday. Following his death, racial tensions increased, leading to the deaths of 40 more people throughout the country and property destruction in more than 100 American communities. -
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act made it illegal to discriminate against those who are attempting to rent, buy, or obtain a mortgage. Additionally, the act ensured that individuals with mental and physical disabilities would not face prejudice when attempting to purchase a home. -
Shirley Chisholm's Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm was the congresswoman for New York's 12th congressional district. Being the first black candidate for a major party nomination, she created history. She was also the first woman to run for president of the Democratic Party. "Unbought and Unbossed" was her campaign motto. -
Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record
By hitting his 715th career home run in 1974, Hank Aaron, a well-known black baseball player for the Atlanta Braves, surpassed Babe Ruth's historic record. Aaron continues to hold the record for the most runs, extra-base hits, and total bases in a career. -
Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention
Barbara Jordan was the first black woman to deliver a keynote address at a significant party convention. Barbara Jordan expertly articulated the Democratic viewpoints and how they connect to the upkeep of civil rights during the address.