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Smith v. Allwright Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that elections could not discriminate by race, eliminating voter segregation. -
Third iteration of the Klu Klux Klan founded
The KKK was a racist organization, violently opposed to the Civil Rights movement, that operated in the American south. -
Christmas Eve bombing of the home of National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples activists
Members of the KKK bombed the home of Harry and Harriette Moore, both were pioneers of the Civil Rights movement and Harry personally founded the first branch of the NAACP in Brevard, Florida. -
Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision
The court decided that school segregation was unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. -
Killing of Emmett Till
Emmett Till, a 14 year old Black teenager, was kidnapped, tortured, and brutally murdered for offending a white woman. -
Rosa Parks Arrest
Rosa Parks refused to leave her bus seat for a white passenger, leading to her arrest. She became a symbol of resistance and bravery in the face of oppression. -
Beginning of Montgomery Bus Boycott
After Rosa Parks arrest, the Black community in Montgomery organized a boycott against the cities buses. The boycott ceased when bus segregation finally ended. -
Browder vs. Gayle Middle district of Alabama court decision
The court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
About 250,000 people, mostly Black, marched on Washington to advocate for African-American political and economic rights. Martin Luther King recited the iconic speech “I Have a Dream” at the end. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The bill was passed into law and ensured equal rights between all peoples regardless of race, gender, religion, or nationality. It is notable for ending segregation. -
Primary Source Quote: The Civil Rights act of 1964
"To enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity" -
Primary Source Quote: Gwendolyn Brooks (Poet)
"When you use the term minority or minorities in reference to people, you are telling them that they’re less than somebody else." -
Miami Riot
The Miami Riot in Liberty City, Florida, happened after an unarmed Black man was killed by a police officer. Over 1,000 people were arrested and it is the 5th most destructive riot in America. -
Jesse Jackson runs for President
Jesse Jackson becomes the second African American to mount a nationwide campaign for President of the United States. -
Gwendolyn Brooks as Poet Laureate
Brooks becomes the first Black person to be Poet Laureate as well as winning the Pulitzer Prize. “When you use the term minority or minorities in reference to people, you are telling them that they’re less than somebody else,” -Gwendolyn Brooks -
Frederick Drew Gregory, first Black space shuttle commander
Gregory commanded the space shuttle that led to discovery, and was an administrator for NASA safety and mission quality. -
Civil rights act of 1990
Amended the Civil rights act of 1954, enforcing better employment practice free of racial and other discrimination. “The court today completes the process of converting title VII (7) of The Civil Rights act of 1964 from a guarantee that race or sex will not be the basis for often will,” - Antonin Scalia (Former Supreme Court Judge) -
LA riots
In 1991, officers brutally beat Rodney King, an African-American man, and when the cops responsible got put on trial, they were found not guilty, which sparked a four day angry riot in LA. 55 people died, 2300 were injured, and 1 billion dollars worth of damage resulted. The following year, 2 out the 4 cops were finally found guilty of violating Rodney Kings rights and he received a 3.8 million dollar settlement. -
Million Man March
Hundreds of thousands of black men gathered in Washington DC to disprove some stereotypes of black men that exist in society and to instill a sense of solidarity and personal responsibility -
Obama First Black President
Barack Obama is elected as the first black president of the United States and is even re-elected in 2012 -
Black Lives Matter Movement
In 2013, three black women organized a political movement in response to the murder of a black man named Trayvon Martin in order to help give power, support, and to intervene in cases of oppression and injustices against black people. -
Chart: Racial Wealth Gap
This chart depicts the average income inequality between white and Black families. -
Kamala Harris
In 2021 Kamala Harris became not only the first women, but the first black woman to be vice president of the United States