-
Brown v Board of Education
Brown v Board of Education was a Supreme Court case which states that "separate but equal" theory of school was unequal and unconstitutional. It ended segregation in public schools across the nation. -
Emmitt Till murder
Emmit Till was a 14-year old boy who was brutally murdered by two men for allegedly hitting on a white woman. His family held an open casket funeral, showcasing what had been done to him. This caused a huge outrage and fueled the Civil Rights movement. -
Montgomery Bus Boycotts
The Montgomery Bus Boycotts started after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. These boycotts lasted a year, where the African American community refused to take buses, creating an elaborate taxi-like system where they drove people to where they needed to be, and walked. This ended segregation on public transportation. -
Little Rock 9
Little Rock 9 was the name given to a group of 9 students who were the first African American students to enroll at the Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were met with violent mobs of people protesting their attendance, but were protected by troops that were sent to protect them from violence. This was a very impactful event closely following the Brown v Board of Education ruling. -
Lunch Counter sit-ins
Lunch Counter sit-ins were a form of protest during the Civil Rights movement where African American people sat in white only sections of Lunch Counters (a place in shopping centers that offered food). This famously started with the Greensboro sit-in who sat at a lunch counter and refused to leave. This event caused many more just like it, leading to the desegregation of these types of public spaces. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
There was a lot of protest against voting laws which kept African Americans from voting. These laws were deemed unconstitutional, going against the 15th amendment. The voting Rights act of 1965 allowed African Americans to vote. -
Freedom Bus Rides
The Freedom Bus Rides were bus trips that went through the deep south where young activists were protesting segregation in the bus stops. They were a mix of black and white students, who protested by sitting in white only/black only areas where they were not meant to be. They were faced by a lot of violence which shed light on this issue, causing the desegregation of the bus stops. -
Birmingham protests
The Birmingham protests were a series of protests that took place in Birmingham Alabama. They were meant to create an awareness about the still extreme segregation taking place in this city. There were many peaceful protests, but they were met with violence from the police force, who used dogs and firehoses to keep them from protesting. Many protestors were children, who were chosen because when arrested they did not affect the families, who still had to work. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was fighting for jobs and freedom. There were over 25,000 people who gathered to protest, and listen to speeches from Civil Rights leaders. This is where the "I have a Dream" speech by MLK was given. -
Freedom (Mississippi) Summer
The Freedom Summer had the goal of increasing African American voter registration in Mississippi. This was organized mostly by young volunteers who set up "Freedom Schools" which taught Civil Rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a very significant part of US legislation, it outlawed discrimination baed on gender, race, religion. It emphasized the end of segregation in public places. It was a huge achievement in the Civil Rights movement. -
Selma Marches
The Selma Marches is the name given to the three marches which happened in Selma Alabama, they were protesting voting rights, and social inequalities faced by African American voters particularly in the south. The first march is known as "Bloody Sunday", where many marchers were brutally attacked by police. This caused outrage across the country. The second march was led by MLK, and the third was able to reach Montgomery.