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Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) was a Supreme Court case where Oliver Brown challenged school segregation in Topeka, Kansas, supported by Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP. The Court unanimously ruled 9-0 to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," marking a key victory for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi after allegedly whistling at Carolyn Bryant, a white woman. Her husband, Roy Bryant, and his brother-in-law, J.W. Milam, abducted, beat, and killed Till, dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River. Despite evidence, they were acquitted by an all-white jury. Mamie Till, Emmett’s mother, held an open-casket funeral, and the shocking photos sparked national outrage, becoming a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott
In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for refusing to give up her seat in the front of a segregated bus to a white man, as required by racial segregation laws. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., where African Americans boycotted the buses for over a year. The boycott eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling in 1956 that declared bus segregation unconstitutional, marking a major victory 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 Voting Rights Campaign and March to Montgomery in 1965. -
Little Rock 9
In 1957, the Little Rock Nine, nine African American students, attempted to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They faced violent resistance from white students and were blocked by the National Guard. President Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce desegregation. Their bravery became a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Greensboro Sit ins
The Greensboro Sit-ins began on February 1, 1960, when four African American college students protested segregation at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. Though they could buy items, they were denied service. By February 3, 60 students joined, and by February 4, 300 students participated. On February 5, 50 white men tried to intimidate them. Their peaceful protest led to the desegregation of many public facilities and played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges, a 6-year-old African-American girl, was one of four black children to pass a test to attend a white school in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was escorted by federal marshals to William Frantz Elementary, becoming the only student taught by one teacher, as white students were withdrawn by their parents. Despite protests and hostility outside the school, Ruby’s courage symbolized the fight for civil rights and school desegregation. -
Freedom Riders
436 individuals from groups like CORE, SNCC, NAACP, and the Nashville Student Movement took part in the Freedom Rides across southern states. Their goal was to challenge segregation in bus terminals, testing a Supreme Court ruling that declared it unconstitutional. They faced violent opposition, including arrests, attacks, and bombings, but their bravery helped bring national attention to segregation and led to the desegregation of public transportation in the South. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C., with 250,000 people attending. It was a peaceful protest for racial equality, job opportunities, and an end to segregation. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was the final address of the day. The march helped amplify the call for civil rights, addressing issues like voting rights, discrimination, and fair housing. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington D.C., aimed to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Supported by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it empowered the federal government to prevent segregation in public facilities and private businesses. Key provisions banned segregation in public accommodations, prohibited employment discrimination, and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, New York. It was carried out by three men: Thomas Hagan (later known as Talmadge Hayer), Norman Butler, and Thomas Johnson, all members or associates of the Nation of Islam. Tensions had escalated after Malcolm’s split from the Nation due to ideological differences with its leader, Elijah Muhammad. His new views on racial unity and human rights made him a target within the organization. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches (Bloody Sunday
The Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 was led by the SCLC and John Lewis to demand voting rights for African Americans. Starting in Selma, Alabama, the 54-mile march faced violent opposition, especially on March 7 ("Bloody Sunday"). The second march on March 9 was halted at the bridge, but it built momentum. The marches helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned racial discrimination in voting. -
Voting Rights Act (1965)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington, D.C. on August 6, 1965. It banned discriminatory practices like literacy tests and poll taxes, making voting a federal matter, not a state issue. The law provided federal oversight in areas with a history of racial discrimination, helping to increase African American voter registration, especially in the South. -
Martin Luther King Jr. - Civil Rights Leader
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting a sanitation workers' strike. At 6:01 p.m., a sniper's bullet struck him in the neck, and he died shortly after. The assassin, James Earl Ray, was arrested two months later and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Despite Ray pleading guilty, he later recanted, claiming he was framed. His death sparked nationwide riots, but his legacy of justice and equality endures.