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Brown v. Board of Education
This was a big step in the desegregation actions within our country. This Supreme Court case declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine that our country had previously been using. -
Emmett Till Murder
14 yo Emmett Till was brutally murdered after he was accused of whistling at a white woman. His mutilated body was shown at an open casket funeral, which received lots of media attention. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest, this was a year-long bus boycott of the segregated Montgomery transportation system. This ended with a Supreme Court ruling that segregation was unconstitutional, and was one of the events that launched MLK as a civil rights leader. -
Little Rock Nine
Nine Black students integrated the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. While there was a lot of pushback, this was a crucial integration that paved the way for the integration of the education system. -
Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-ins
Four Black college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, sat in on an all white lunch counter. This protest sparked widespread sit-ins across America. -
Freedom Rides
Interracial activists rode buses into the segregated South, which sparked lots of revolt. The pushback they received gained national attention and forced federal intervention. -
Birmingham Protests
These protests targeted segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Images of police and other law enforcement using dogs and fire hoses on peaceful protesters drew national attention and were a very impactful scene. -
March on Washington
Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C to demand civil and economic rights for African Americans. This was a major event for MLK as he delivered his very impactful "I have a dream" speech. -
Freedom Summer (Mississippi Summer Project)
This voter registration drive in Mississippi aimed to increase Black voters after a previous underrepresentation. The murder of three activists during the campaign drew national outrage. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This new law banned segregation in public places and outlawed employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or origin. This was a major piece of legislation that marked a positive shift for the movement. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches
Protesters marched for voting rights in Alabama, but the first attempt—"Bloody Sunday" - included tons of police brutality. National coverage of this peaceful protest sparked outrage and influenced the passing of the Voting Rights Act. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This law banned discriminatory practices like literacy tests and empowered the federal government to oversee voter registration. This was a major victory for the civil rights movement and was very impactful for equality.