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The Supreme Court Decision of Plessy v. Ferguson
The landmark of the Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) was the establishment of the "separate but equal" doctrine, which allowed for racial segregation as long as facilities for different races were considered equal, thereby legitimizing Jim Crow laws -
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were crucial to the Civil Rights Movement because their exceptional service and bravery as the first black military aviators challenged racial stereotypes and paved the way for the desegregation of the military and broader society, inspiring future generations to fight for equality. They were located at the European Theater of World War 2. -
The Integration of Major League Baseball
Jackie Robinson's integration of Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947, was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, breaking the color barrier and paving the way for African Americans in professional sports and beyond. -
The Integration of the Armed Forces
The integration of the U.S. armed forces, mandated by Executive Order 9981 in 1948, was crucial for promoting equality and opportunity for all service members, regardless of race, and served as a landmark achievement in the civil rights movement, paving the way for broader societal changes. President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981. -
The Supreme Court Decision of Sweat v. Painter
The Supreme Court's 1950 decision in Sweatt v. Painter, which ruled that the University of Texas Law School must admit a Black student, Heman Sweatt, laid the groundwork for the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which declared "separate but equal" educational facilities inherently unequal and unconstitutional.