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Brown v Board of Education
Brown v Board was a significant Supreme Court case that declared separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The case overturned the "separate but equal" ideology established by Plessy v Ferguson, which allowed racial segregation in public. The decision in Brown v Board marked a substantial victory for the civil rights movement and ledto desegregation efforts in schools and other public places. This can be seen as one of the starting strides to 'true equality'. -
Emmitt Till Murder
The Emmitt Till murder was a horrific act of racial violence that shocked the nation. Till (14 years old from Chicago) was brutally lynched in Mississippi after being falsely accused of flirting with a white woman. His mutilated body was discovered days later, causing outrage acrossthe nation and drawing attention to the brutality of racism in the South. The trial of Till's killers, who were acquitted by an all-white jury, further highlighted the deep-rooted injustices of the Jim Crow era. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycotts
The Mongomery Bus Boycotts were some of the first major protests against segregation in the deep south. They uses peaceful protesting in the form of boycotts to show that African Americans in the United States would not stand down, and developed a system that would later be mirrored in other protests and boycotts across the country. -
Little Rock 9
Little Rock 9 was a group of black students who integrated into an all-white high school following the Supreme Court's Brown v Board decision, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Their enrollment was met with violence from the public and the National Guard, which the governor used to stop the students from entering the school. Eisenhower eventually intervened, putting in his own troops on the ground and in the school, and ensuring the safe entry of the students. -
Lunch Counter Sit-Ins
The Lunch Counter sit-ins were nonviolent protests in the where college students challenged segregation policies by sitting at "whites-only" lunch counters in restaurants. They got significant media attention and sympathy (despite many people dumping food on them or harassing them), leading to the desegregation of many public facilities after businesses couldn't keep up with business losses (since the sit-ins would prohibit customers from taking their seat). -
Freedom Bus Rides
The Freedom Rides were bus journeys by civil rights activists to challenge segregated interstate bus terminals across the south. Despite facing opposition from segregationists (beatings and firebombings), the Freedom Rides drew attention to the ongoing struggle against segregtion and contributed to the eventual desegregation of interstate travel through the Interstate Commerce Commission. -
Birmingham Protests
The Birmingham protests were a series of nonviolent demonstrations against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. These protests (led by MLK) aimed to challenge the city's rigid segregation laws and economic discrepancies. The use of nonviolent resistance, including sit-ins, marches, and boycotts, drew attention to the repression faced by demonstrators, including the widespread use of police violence (fire hoses, dogs) against peaceful protesters. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was one of the largest civil rights rallies. It was organized by civil rights, labor, and religious organizations, bringing many thousands of demonstraors to fight for civil rights for African Americans. The highlight of the march MLK's 'I Have a Dream' speech, showing the vision of racial equality and justice. The march pressured the government to pass civil rights legislation, leading to the civil rights act. -
Freedom Summer
Freedom summer was a major civil rights movement aiming to increase african american voter registration in Mississippi, bringing hundreds of predominantly white college students from the North to support local African American activists. Despite facing violence and resistance, including the murders of three civil rights workers (Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner), freedom summer increased awareness of injustices faced by african americans in the South and paved the way for the voting rights act. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The civil rights act was a significant piece of legislation that aimed to address discrimination and segregation, mainly in public spaces, employment, and education. It stopped discrimination as a whole and was a significant step towards removing legal segregation and promoting equality. Passing this act marked a key moment in the civil rights movement and represented a major victory for those who had fought against systemic racism and injustice. -
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Selma Marches
The marches, led by activists like MLK, aimed to protest discriminatory voting laws and practices in Alabama, particularly in Selma, and to advocate for the right of African Americans to vote freely. The violence peaceful marchers faced on 'Bloody Sunday' caused a national outrage and ultimately contributed to passing the voting rights act, which took away many barriers to voting. Ultimately, the Selma marches were the more prominent pushes of nonviolent resistance and the struggle for equality. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The voting rights act was a part of legislation that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state level that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. This was impotant because the right to vote was guaranteed under the 15th Amendment. It was necessary to address racial discrimination in voting, such as litercy tests and poll taxes, and ultimately led to more African Americans voting across the country in places their voice normally wouldn't be heard