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Jackie Robinson
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball making this a significant event for all African Americans since it opened doors for other African American athletes to enter fields normally dominated by Whites. This came at a time when African Americans were starting to proclaim their value after the war and needed a big breakthrough in order to achieve this. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown v. The Board of Education court case was about the forced segregation of Whites and Blacks in public schools. In a shocking breakthrough, the Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional after an almost two year case giving African Americans a major jumpstart into the public eye and on the fight for their civil rights. -
Montgomery Bus Boycotts
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a civil rights protest that began after Rosa Parks was arrested for her refusal to give up her seat on the bus. African Americans in the city then refused to ride the buses at all for a year, forcing the Supreme Court to order Montgomery to integrate its bus system. Martin Luther King Jr who later became a major civil rights icon was a leader in this boycott -
Little Rock Nine
9 African American students who were the first to enroll in Little Rock Central High School formerly forcefully segregated by the governor came to be known as Little Rock Nine. On the first day of school, the governor called the state national guard to block their entrance into the school but they were escorted later escorted by federal troops sent by the President into the school. This event was significant because it was the first major instance of school desegregation for African Americans. -
Greensboro Sit-Ins
The Greensboro Sit-In was a civil rights protest concerning a group of African Americans who chose to continue to sit at a segregated lunch counter that refused to service them. Word of it spread and soon similar sit-ins started happening all over the country. Although they were punished for their actions, it was a significant moment for the movement because it forced institutions like the lunch counter to rescind their segregationist policies. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was a historic protest with more than 250,000 protesters, acting a s a reminder of all the racial inequalities African Americans were still facing despite their supposed emancipation. This event also marked the debut of one of the most famous speeches, "I Have A Dream" by Martin Luther Kings, touching hearts across the nation. This was significant because it was at the forefront of all major protests like the one in Birmingham and being endorsed by JFK, expressing support -
Civil Rights Act
A year after the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment practices and public accommodations like theaters, swimming pools, restaurants, hotels and libraries. -
Malcolm X Assassination
Malcolm X was a major civil rights advocate with ties to the Nation of Islam, a black empowerment group which preached separation from Whites. After a pilgrimage to Mecca, he started to rethink their values and started to advocate for working towards equality together with the whites and exposed the Nation of Islam for going against the values of Islam. In order to save itself, it had Malcolm assassinated. This was significant because it casted out the NoI enough to promote non violent protests. -
March to Selma
The Selma March was a series of marches over the course of three days by African Americans to register to vote. They were stopped and beaten by local authorities and white vigilantes. They were later able to register under guard from federal troops but it highlighted the need for a national Voting Rights Act to ensure equality for all and avoid future situations like that march -
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was signed to provide a way for African Americans to overcome legal barriers that stopped exercising them from their 15th Amendment right. This Act was significant because it stopped all forms of discrimination and got rid of acts like the literary tests that undermined African Americans. -
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Black Power Movement
The Black Power Movement in the 1960s and 70s was a revolutionary movement catering to emphasis on racial pride, artistic expression, economic empowerment and the embracement of African culture. The term Black Power was coined by Stokely Carmichael. The movement was a parallel force to the civil rights one and boasted the achievements of the latter and was significant because it promoted Malcolm X's principles and gave rise to parties like the Black Panther Party. -
Black Panther Party Formation
The Black Panther Party was a militant black organization focused on ideologies like Black nationalism, socialism and even armed defense against the like of police brutality, following the challenge issued by Malcolm X to pursue freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary. They were significant to the civil rights movement because of their contributions to black empowerment during the era. -
Martin Luther King Assassination
Martin Luther King Jr. is the most recognized figure from the civil rights movement because of his involvement in multiple protests and activities that led to major cessions for the movement. His assassination had shocked the world and was significant not only because it had helped speed the way for an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era but also because his death was a major loss to the movement which tapered off after the 80s -
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
The Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Supreme court case sued the Charlotte school system with deliberate violation of the court ruling to integrate schools and with maintaining segregated schools. The case ended with busing programs created to help integrate segregated schools faster. This was significant because it gave African Americans a mode of transportation to schools which meant less of them would be likely to stay home due to lack of it. -
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Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman in congress and later became the first African American to win the democratic party's presidential nomination and run for President. Both these events were significant because it paved the way for other African Americans to run for the highest seat in the country which up until then had been a far off dream for many. After her however Jesse Jackson ran and finally Barack Obama who won the election and set up a legacy supporting Black nominees