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Randolph and Truman
On this day Randolph warns President Truman that he will lead a civil disobedience campaign against the draft unless the military's armed forces are to be integrated. -
Shelly v. Kraemer
In this case the supreme court rules that judicial enforcement of racially restrictive property convenants is a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. -
Democratic National Convention
The democratic national convention adopts a liberal platform on civil rights. This lead to a split in the party a few days later. -
Executive orders 9980 and 9981
President Truman issues these executive orders that establish the Fair Employment Board and begin the desegregation of the armed forces. -
1949
Throughout 1949 many bills were drafted, like one to abolish poll taxes and end segregation in interstate transportation, but they were never brought to the Senate for a vote. -
Sweatt v. Painter
In this court case the court ruled that a separate law school established by the University of Texas does not provide equal educational opportunity and orders the university to admit African-Americans. -
Henderson v. United States
In this court case that was decieded upon on the same day as Sweatt v. Painter, the court ruled that segregated seating on railroad dining cars denies the equal access to public accommodations that was guaranteed by the Interstate Commerce Act. -
Harry Moore Dies
On this day Harry Moore who was the NAACP leader that lead a campaign against police brutality and also led a voter registration drive, was killed along with his wife when their houe is bombed. -
Brown v. Board of Education
On this day the supreme court rules that public school segregation violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Quote from Case Ruling.
"Segregation of white and Negro children in the public schools of a State solely on the basis of race, pursuant to state laws permitting or requiring such segregation, denies to Negro children the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment..." -
Armed Forces Desegregated
On this day the Department of Defense announces that the armed forces have been fully desegregated. -
School Cases sent to federal courts
On this day in May the Supreme Court decides to have the school cases remanded to lower federal courts with the instruction that they should issue desegregation orders. -
Emmett Till
The 14 year old boy is killed by two white men after he was allegedly whistling at a white woman. This crime attracted widespread attention. -
Rosa Parks is Arrested
In Montgomery, Alebama Rosa parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat to whites. -
Montgomery Improvement Association / MLK Jr. elected President
The montgomery improvement association is orgainzed to conduct a boycott of city buses after Rosa Park's arrest. Also at this meeting Martin Luther King Jr. is elected as the association's president. -
Virginis Legislature
During this month the Legislature of Virgina adopts a program of "massive resistance" to school desegregation that calls for the closing of schools under desegregation orders. -
Southern Negro Leadership Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integreation
This organization that is later known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is organized on this day with MLK as its chairman. -
Malcom X and Harlem demonstration
Malcom X on this day leads a demonstration outside of a police station in Harlem to protest the beating of a Black Muslim and demand that he be transferred to a hospital. -
Federal Civil Rights Bill
The first federal civil rights bill since the 1800s is passed. It makes conspiring to deny citizens their right to bote in federal elections a federal crime and gives federal prosecutors the power to obtain injunctions against discrimnatory practices used to deny citizens their voting rights. -
Little Rock, Arkansas
Federal court oders for the 9 African American students to be admitted to the Cental High School but the Governor, Faubus, decides to use the National Guard to prevent their entrance. -
Faubus Withdraws the Guard
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Mob in Little Rock
The 9 African American students are attacked by a large white mob. -
School Closing Law ends.
On this day the Virginia Supreme Court rules that the law that was passed by the Virginia Legislature, saying that desegregated schools were to be closed, is in fact in violation of the state constitution. -
"The Hate That Hate Produced"
This television documentary primiered on this day and it made Malcom X more known. -
Civil Rights Act passed
The Civil rights act that was passed by congress. -
1960 election
In this election Kennedy beat Nixon with critical support from the African American voters -
Sit Ins
During this year of 1960 there are many sit ins that started in North Carolina. -
Executive Order 10925
This order that Kennedy issued established the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity Commission whos purpose was to investigate racial discrimination by government contractors. -
Freedom Riders
Beginning on this day Freedom Riders tested the desegregation of bus stations but usually end with violence and many being arrested. -
24th Amendment
On this day congress submitted this Amendment. It would abolish poll taxes in federal elections. -
House Passes civil rights bill
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"Letter from Birmingham Jail"
King is arrested on this day and writes his letter from jail which justifyed disobedience to unjust laws.
Exerpt From Letter
"In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham." -
"Moral Crisis"
On this day Kennedy appears on a televised address in which he says racial discrimination is a "moral crisis" and here he proposes the new civil rights bill. -
Final Draft of Civil rights Bill is passes
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MLK's "I Have a Dream" Speech
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24th Amendment is ratified
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Malcom X is assasinated
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Johnson Executive Order 1124
This order required that all federal contractors are to take "affirmative action" to hire and promote persons without regard to race. -
Black Panther Party is founded.
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Edward Brooke is First Black senator since 1881
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Thurgood Marshal is First Black Justice on Supreme Court
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MLK is assasinated
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Philadelphia Plan
Plan required contractors in philidelphia to hire minority workers. -
Equal Emplyoment Opportunity Act
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Maynard Jackson becomes first Black Mayor of a major southern city
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