The Civil Rights Movement

Brown V. Board of Education

May 17, 1954

After a African American Student by the name of Linda Brown was denied admission to her local school due to her race, The NAACP helped her parents sue the school board. This case was combined with several other cases involving public school segregation, and became known as the Brown V. Board of Education Case. The supreme court, on May 17, 1954, ruled Unanimously , that the segregation of/in public schools was unconstitutional.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Dec 5, 1955

On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks defied segregation by refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man when the bus was full, Leading to the cops arriving and arresting her. On the day of her court appearance, several African American Leaders began organizing a boycott of the Montgomery bussing system. MLK encouraged the people of Montgomery to peacefully boycott by walking wherever they needed. In November 1956, Alabama's Bus segregation was deemed unconstitutional.

Little Rock 9

Sep 4, 1957

In early September 1957 a school Board in Little Rock, Arkansas won a Court Order allowing 9 African American children to go to Central High, a all white school. To stop this integration, the governor of Arkansas Orval Faubus, sent in the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the Children from entering the school. To stop the governor, Eisenhower Federalized the National guard and sent in Army Troops to take control of the situation and to stop the white mobs. The 9 children attended Central High.

Sit-In Movement

Feb 1, 1960

Four African Americans Freshmen - Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr. , David Richmond, and Franklin McCain were attending North Carolina Agriculture and Technical School, where they became very intrigued into the Civil rights movement. They decided to participate by going to the local Woolworths and sitting at the Lunch counter until they would be served. Word spread of there sit-in and before they knew it hundreds participated at the local Woolworths, The movement then spread across the country.

Freedom Riders

May 1, 1961

Even after segregation of bus travel was banned, it remained in place in much of the south. To bring awareness to the issue many Young African America and White volunteers were asked to travel to bus terminals in the south. The groups became known as Freedom Riders, and were very often greeted by large white mobs and white supremacy groups, who would threaten or beat the riders. One bus in Anniston was blown up with a firebomb, thankfully none was injured.

James Meredith and Desegregation of Universities

Sep 30, 1962

An African American Air Force veteran named James Meredith applied for a transfer to University of Mississippi, which was denied due to his race. James Meredith attempted to apply at the admissions office but was denied there to. He then got a court order and was accompanied by 500 federal marshals to Escourt him. Meredith was greeted by a large white mob which attacked the campus, injuring 160 marshals. JFK responded to this by sending Army troops to allow Meredith to attend the school.

The March on Washington

Aug 23, 1963

After realizing JFK's struggle to get the civil rights bill through congress, Dr. King came up with a idea. To lobby congress and to build public support, the idea of a march on Washington was chosen. On August 28, 1963, over 200,000 demonstrators gathered in the capital to hear speeches, poems, and hymns. Dr. King gave his historic "I have a dream speech" here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4iY1TtS3s

Malcom X and the Civil Rights Movement

1964

Malcom X became a symbol of the Black Power movement in the early 1960s. Malcom was born into rough conditions, and ended up in jail for 6 years as a teen. In jail Malcom had educated himself and became a active in the prison debate society. He later joined the Nation of Islam and became a Black Muslim. Black Muslims viewed themselves as there own nation and often ran there own communities. He often criticized the civil rights movement and felt that they should separate from white society.

Voter Registration Among Minorities

Aug 3, 1965

In the south,there was great resistance to African Americans voting in state elections,normally leading to people being beaten and churches being destroyed. To combat the inequality, King chose Selma, Alabama as the focal point of there campaign. As they began a march to Montgomery, the local law enforce prepared to stop them.On the Edmund Pettus Bridge praying Demonstrators were brutally beaten by law enforcement. This event infuriated the nation and lead to the proposal of a voting rights law.

Urban Problems and the Black Panthers

1966

Even with the passing of the Civil Rights bills, many African Americans found themselves poverty trapped, funneled into low paying jobs, and unable to escape. These conditions led many young African Americans to feel forgot/trapped, leading to groups like the Black Panthers. This group believed revolution was necessary. They told told Blacks arm themselves and to prepare to fight for rights. They called for control of major institutions in African American communities like schools, law, etc.