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Brown V. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that school segregation was unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision, led by Oliver Brown and supported by the NAACP, found that "separate but equal" schools violated the 14th Amendment. It marked a turning point for civil rights, though resistance to desegregation persisted, especially in the South. -
Murder of Emmett till
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy, was murdered in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman. He was abducted, tortured, and killed by Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, who were later acquitted despite confessing to the crime. Till’s mother held an open-casket funeral to show the brutality he endured, sparking national outrage and fueling the Civil Rights Movement. -
Rosa Parks and the bus boycott
Rosa Parks' 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lasting over a year, the protest ended with a Supreme Court ruling that desegregated public buses, becoming a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The SCLC was an organization linked to the black churches. 60 black ministers were pivotal in organizing civil right activism. Martin Luther King Jr was elected President. They focused its non violent strategy on citizenship, schools and efforts to desegregate individual cities. It played key roles in the March on Washington in 1963 and the Selma Voting Rights Campaign and March to Montgomery in 1965. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine Black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 following the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Their enrollment faced violent resistance, prompting President Eisenhower to send federal troops to protect them and enforce desegregation. Their bravery became a symbol of the struggle for educational equality during the Civil Rights Movement. -
Greensboro Sit ins
The Greensboro sit-ins began in 1960 when four Black students peacefully protested segregation at a Woolworth's lunch counter. Despite harassment, they inspired nationwide sit-ins, leading to the desegregation of many public spaces and advancing the Civil Rights Movement. -
Selma to Montgomery marches (Bloody Sunday)
The 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, including the violent "Bloody Sunday," were crucial to the Civil Rights Movement. On March 7, peaceful protesters were brutally attacked by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The shocking violence drew national attention and support. Subsequent marches, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., successfully reached Montgomery, pressuring Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a major victory for voting rights and racial equality. -
Ruby Bridges
the first African American child to integrate an all-white public school in the South. six years old, she attended William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960, escorted by federal marshals for her safety due to violent protests and racial hostility. Her courage in the face of intense adversity became an iconic moment in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the struggle for school desegregation and racial equality. a symbol of resilience and the fight for justice in education. -
Freedom Riders
The Freedom Riders were interracial activists who rode buses into the segregated South in 1961 to challenge segregation in interstate travel. They faced violent attacks and arrests but continued their efforts, drawing national attention to racial injustice. Their actions pressured the federal government to enforce desegregation laws, leading to the desegregation of bus terminals in the South and advancing the Civil Rights Movement. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held on August 28, 1963, saw over 250,000 people rallying in Washington, D.C., to demand racial equality and civil rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech became the event's highlight, calling for an end to racism and equality for all. The march played a key role in pushing for civil rights laws, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It aimed to end segregation in public places, schools, and workplaces. The Act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to address workplace discrimination. It was a crucial victory in the Civil Rights Movement, helping to dismantle institutionalized racism in the United States. -
Assassination of Malcom X
Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while speaking in New York City. He was shot by members of the Nation of Islam, a group he had split from due to ideological differences. His assassination followed a shift in his views after his pilgrimage to Mecca, where he adopted a more inclusive approach to racial justice. Despite convictions, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding his death. Malcolm X's legacy as a leader for Black empowerment continues to inspire. -
Voting Rights Act ( 1965)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to end racial discrimination in voting by banning practices like literacy tests and poll taxes. It provided federal oversight in areas with a history of voter suppression and ensured protections for racial minorities. The Act greatly increased Black voter registration and participation, marking a key achievement in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray. His death led to national outrage and widespread riots. As a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, King advocated for nonviolent resistance to racism and injustice. His assassination was a tragic moment in U.S. history, but his legacy continues to inspire the fight for racial equality and social justice.