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Oliver Brown filed against the Board of education of Topeka because his daughter, Linda Brown, was denied entrance to an all-white elementary school. When the case was presented to the U.S. District Court in Kansas, they agreed that segregation of students contributed to "a sense of inferiority" among the black students. This case and 4 similar cases were combined and presented to the Supreme Court. Newly appointed chief justice Earl Warren lead the decision to unanimous against segregation.
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A year-long protest in which African-Americans refused to ride public busses in Montgomery Alabama. It started because Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. One of the leaders of this boycott was Martin Luther King Jr.
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The 'Little Rock Nine' were a group of African-Americans that were attending a previously all-white school. On the first day, the governor, Orval Faubus, called for the Arkansas National Guard to block their entry to the school. The president, Eisenhower, sent federal troops to escort the 9 students to their class. This brought attention to the Civil Rights Movement.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1957 allowed federal prosecution of anyone who attempted to prevent another from voting. Eisenhower signed this bill to show his dedication to the Civil Rights Movement.
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Inspired by the death of Emmett Till, 4 African-American college students went to a segregated diner and refused to leave after being refused service. This act spread to many other towns, where people were arrested for disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and trespassing.
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A quarter of a million people attended this protest at the Lincoln Memorial to protest their inequalities while getting jobs and freedom. This protest was lead by Martin Luther King Jr, where he delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech.
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Organized by the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), over 700 (Mostly white) volunteers aimed to register African Americans to vote. This event was met by violent protesters of the KKK and local law enforcement. News coverage of false arrests, beatings, and murders drew international attention towards civil rights.
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Oulawed the usage of discriminatory practices when registering to vote. This would be like the literacy tests, where many African-Americans were unable to pass because of their limited education. Many poll operators were also telling the African-Americans that they got the day, time, or voting place wrong, or that they filled out a form wrong.
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Riots broke out in Watts, California, because people believed police were being unjust towards black citizens. The riots led to $40 million in damages, and 34 deaths. The police also raided a mosque and were later accused of doing it solely because they had the riots to distract the public.
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The Black Panther Party was a political party that was founded to challenge police brutality against the African American community. Their goal was to elect more African-Americans to public office. This failed because the FBI interfered, and created tension between members of the party. The organization peaked at 2,000 members but then declined because of controversies around and within the members.
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The Kerner Commission's report condemned racism, as they thought it was the primary cause of riots. The report also recommended giving more aid to African-American communities to prevent them from isolating themselves from the rest of their community.
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Dr. King's death led to many protests across the country, many staying peaceful. The death of a civil rights leader added tension to current issues, and many took to the streets to protest these actions. In DC, 1,000 buildings were burned and caused $27 million in damages. National guard and marines had to be called in to calm down the city. President Lyndon Johnson condemned the assassination and passed the Fair Housing Act to support the African-American communities.
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Carol and her sister Vivian were attending a party in housing projects. The police were called and the kids ran out the back. The police chased them and shot Vivian in the head. The community was outraged so they rioted in the streets because they thought Vivian's death was unjust. The officer involved was found innocent in his trial, which only caused more outrage in the community.
