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Brown vs. Board of Education
In this landmark Supreme Court case, the court ruled that, in response to a Black girl that attempted to integrate Topeka ,Kansas public schools, that under the 14th amendment, segregation in every form is illegal.
1. Plessy vs Fergeson
2.The district refused to allow Blacks to go to white schools
3. Segregation was ruled unconstitutional. -
Rosa Parks Stands Her Ground
In Montgomery, segregation on the buses had been a way of life. Until December 1st, 1955 when a black woman, Rosa Parks, sat in the front of a bus. Black people were supposed to sit in the back, but Rosa ignored that rule. When she refused to get up for a white man that didn't wan't to sit the back, she was arrested. It was this event that inspired the Montgomery bus boycott. -
Civil Rights Act Of 1957
In 1957, congress passed a civil rights act helping guarantee voting rights for African Americans, and also allowed the government to sue to protect the rights of African Americans. -
Turmoil in Little Rock, Arkansas
After 9 black student tried to integrate a Little Rock high school, riots broke out in the streets. After the Governor refused to maintain order, President Eisenhower called in the army to keep things more peaceful. -
Attack of the Freedom Riders
After the Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional, African Americans and whites rode throughout the south to make sure the decision was upheld. Organized by the NAACP, their nonviolent way of protest was unfortunately met with violence, and many people were hurt on these "Freedom Rides". -
James Meredith Enrolls at Ole Miss
When James Meredith enrolled at Ole Miss, he was met with rioters protesting the integration of the school. The Governor, not enforcing the rules, (I'm feeling a pattern here.) was adamant that James should not be allowed to enroll in the university. At one point, he want as far as personally blocking the door to the admissions office so Meredith couldn't enroll. In the end, President JFK sent in the army to maintain order when he sided with Meredith. -
Medgar Evers Assassinated
Medgar Evers was the fist field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi. He help organize boycotts and voter registration drives in the state. -
The March On Washington
The March on Washington was created to try and raise awareness for civil rights issues, such a segregation, and to show support for the then gridlocked bill that would protect African Americans right (this bill would later be known as the civil rights act of 1964.) -
March to Selma
When protesters lead by MLK tried to march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery, the were violently halted at the Edmund Pettis Bridge. However, they later regrouped, and eventually made it to the state capital.
Selma, Alabama -
Civil Rights Act Of 1964
Passed by congress, and signed by president Johnson, this law outlawed discrimination for any reason.
Washington D.C. -
Thurgood Marshall become the first African American Supreme Court Justice
On October 2nd 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first black supreme court justice. -
The Assassination Of MLK
I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” -Dr. King the night before being struck in the neck with a sniper bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. While the civil right movement moved on, some members shifted toward more violent rhetoric.
