-
The Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal facilities for African American and white students in professional schools were inherently unequal, setting a precedent for challenging segregation in higher education. -
he Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation on interstate buses was unconstitutional, leading to the desegregation of bus transportation and helping dismantle Jim Crow -
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy, was brutally murdered in Mississippi for allegedly flirting with a white woman. His death and the acquittal of his killers became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. -
African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, boycotted the city's segregated bus system after the arrest of Rosa Parks, leading to a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on public buses unconstitutional.
-
Following Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a bus, the Montgomery Improvement Association, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal nonviolent protest that played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. -
The integration of Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, where nine African American students faced intense hostility and resistance from white mobs, prompting President Eisenhower to deploy federal troops to protect the students and uphold the Supreme Court's ruling on desegregation. -
Various incidents of violence erupted in Northern states as African American students attempted to integrate public schools, highlighting the persistence of racial tensions and resistance to desegregation outside of the South.
-
Various incidents of violence erupted in Northern states as African American students attempted to integrate public schools, highlighting the persistence of racial tensions and resistance to desegregation outside of the South.
-
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to coordinate nonviolent protests and advocate for racial equality and justice. -
The first significant civil rights legislation enacted since Reconstruction, aimed at protecting voting rights for African Americans by establishing federal oversight of election practices in Southern states. -
The Supreme Court unanimously held that state officials were bound by the Court's decisions and could not nullify or ignore them, affirming the authority and supremacy of the federal judiciary in enforcing desegregation orders. -
Four African American college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter, sparking a wave of similar protests across the South and leading to the desegregation of many public facilities. -
A nonviolent protest led by the Albany Movement in Albany, Georgia, aimed at desegregating public facilities and ending racial discrimination, but ultimately faced significant challenges and limited success due to strategic missteps and a divided community.
-
Integrated groups of activists began bus rides through the South to challenge segregated interstate bus terminals. They faced violent opposition but ultimately prompted the federal government to enforce desegregation of interstate transportation facilities.
-
James Meredith became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, following a federal court order to desegregate the institution, which sparked protests and violence on campus. -
A series of nonviolent protests and civil disobedience organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and led by Martin Luther King Jr. aimed to desegregate Birmingham, Alabama. The campaign gained national attention and resulted in an agreement to desegregate public facilities
-
The murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi, highlighting the dangers faced by those fighting for racial equality and further galvanizing the civil rights movement. -
A massive civil rights demonstration took place in Washington, D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The march increased public support for civil rights legislation. -
A campaign led by civil rights organizations to register African American voters and establish Freedom Schools in Mississippi, despite facing violent resistance and the tragic murders of three civil rights activists. -
This landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and ended racial segregation in public places, effectively dismantling Jim Crow laws. -
The Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was constitutional and could be applied to private businesses, thus prohibiting racial discrimination in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and restaurants. -
The assassination of prominent civil rights activist Malcolm X in New York City, cutting short his influential advocacy for black empowerment and challenging racial inequality through nonviolent means. -
A nonviolent protest march led by civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand equal voting rights for African Americans, culminating in the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
-
This act eliminated discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, that had disenfranchised African Americans. It aimed to ensure equal access to the voting booth. -
Civil rights activist James Meredith organized a solo march from Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi, to encourage African Americans to register to vote and challenge segregation and racism in the South.
-
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, resulting in widespread riots and protests across the United States. -
Legislation enacted to combat housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and promote equal opportunity in housing for all individuals. -
Robert F. Kennedy, a prominent supporter of civil rights, was assassinated during his presidential campaign, leaving a significant impact on the movement. -
The Supreme Court ruling upheld the constitutionality of busing as a means to achieve racial integration in public schools, allowing school districts to use busing to combat segregation. -
Shirley Chisholm, an African American woman, became the first major-party African American candidate for President of the United States, running for the Democratic Party nomination on a platform advocating for civil rights and social justice. -
Hank Aaron, an African American baseball player, broke Babe Ruth's long-standing home run record by hitting his 715th home run, achieving a significant milestone in sports history and inspiring African American athletes. -
Barbara Jordan, an African American congresswoman, delivered a powerful keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, emphasizing the importance of equality, civil rights, and democratic values. -
The Supreme Court ruled that while affirmative action programs could be used in college admissions to promote diversity, strict racial quotas were unconstitutional, sparking ongoing debates about affirmative action policies.