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Brown v. Board of Education: May 1954
Led by Thurgood Marshall, a lawyer for the NAACP, who took the case to prove that the "separate but equal" clause decided in Plessy v. Ferguson was unconstitutional. He employed the doll test, where little children found that the white child was the smartest one. This prompted the Supreme Court to find that segregation in the school place was unconstitutional and should be put to a stop at a "deliberate speed". This phrase ultimately allows the southern states not to desegregate. -
Emmett Till Murder: August 1955
A 14-year-old African American boy visiting Mississippi was abducted and brutally killed by multiple white men. He was accused of offending a white woman in her shop. His death caused an uproar nationally and prompted the spread of the Civil Rights Movement. The people who killed him were later acquitted of all charges by an all-white jury. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycotts: December 1955
This boycott was sparked by Rosa Parks, a secretary for the NAACP, who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man entering the bus. It was a 381-day boycott with mass participation, leading the Supreme Court to outlaw segregation on buses. This is where leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. started to become more prominent. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965: (August 1956)
This was the second piece of major legislation passed by Johnson in office, which was planned by his predecessor, JFK. Federal law had now officially banned discriminatory practices in voting, such as the literacy test and poll tax. The eradication of these practices led to increased black voter legislation. It also allowed for federal oversight in voting booths to limit intimidation caused by segregationists. -
Little Rock Nine: September 1957
The Little Rock Nine was employed in Arkansas in 1957, where nine African American students were sent to a white school to "desegregate". There were riots from the elder people of the town, with bombs and death threats screamed at the children. Eventually, the national guard steps in to escort them to and from class. This first attempt to desegregate is messy, but it is crucial in the steps taken later by other states to integrate. -
Greensboro Sit-Ins: February 1960
Four black college students sat at a segregated lunch counter in North Carolina. They ultimately refused to leave it despite being asked to leave multiple times. The protest sparked a wave of "sit-ins" across the country and increased youth involvement in the movement. -
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The Freedom Rides: May-December (1961)
An integrated group of civil rights activists rode interstate buses into the South. Since this was interstate commerce, the group of individuals was trying to challenge the Supreme Court's rulings on segregation. These riders at many points were faced with brutal mobs, beatings, and riots. The Freedom Rides attracted national attention and forced the federal government to take action. -
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Birmingham Protests: April-May (1963)
The Birmingham Protests were done to refuel the Civil Rights movement. These demonstrations challenged segregation in Alabama, which was considered one of the most segregated parts of the country. National news reported fire hoses and mobs. Eventually, the movement included children. The use of children was reported internationally and shed light on the extreme segregation present in the US. MLK was also a part of this protest, leading to his Birmingham Jail letter. -
March on Washington: August 1963
The "March on Washington" was a large gathering of hundreds of thousands of people who came to hear MLK speak. MLK had now become a prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement. This was where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, which was televised nationally. This event showed national support for civil rights legislation. -
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Freedom Summer: June-August (1964)
Groups of Civil Rights activists launched campaigns in Mississippi, which was considered one of the most segregated areas in the country. Volunteers, many of whom were white, travelled down to Mississippi to register black voters. This was met with outrage, leading to the deaths of 3 of these activists. This sparked national attention again, promoting the Civil Rights cause further. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964: July 1964
This was considered one of the most radical pieces of civil rights legislation since the Reconstruction era in the late 1800s. This was originally planned by JFK, but after his assassination, his predecessor, Johnson, took over. This outlawed segregation or discrimination in the employment industry regardless of religion, gender, or race. This now included several other movements, ultimately making it extremely radical for its time. -
Selma Marches: March 1965
This was a march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama. This was again for voting rights. The marchers were met with violent mobs and riots against them. This again drew national attention and sparked public outrage and increased momentum for voting legislation.