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Brown vs Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court case in 1954 where the Court decided that it was wrong to have separate schools for Black and white children. The ruling said that even if the schools were meant to be "equal," separating students by race made Black children feel inferior and was unfair. The decision changed the law, making it clear that segregating schools was unconstitutional, and helped spark the Civil Rights Movement, pushing for more equality in American society. -
Murder of Emmet till
Emmett Till was a 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago who was visiting relatives in Mississippi in 1955. He was accused of flirting with a white woman named Carolyn Bryant, though there’s no proof he did. A few days later, Till was kidnapped, beaten, and killed by two white men. His body was dumped in a river, and his mother, Mamie Till, an open-casket funeral to show the world what had happened to her son. The two men who killed him were put on trial but were acquitted. -
Voting Rights Act (1965)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a major law passed to make sure everyone, no matter their race, had the right to vote. Before it was passed, many states, especially in the South, used tricks like literacy tests and poll taxes to prevent Black people from voting. This law banned those unfair practices and made sure the government stepped in if states tried to make it harder for certain groups to vote. It was a big step toward making the voting process fairer for everyone. -
Rosa parks and the Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was an African American woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a powerful protest against racial segregation. The boycott lasted for over a year and brought people together to fight for equal rights. It eventually led to a Supreme Court decision that made segregation on public buses illegal. Rosa Parks became a symbol of courage and the fight for justice. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was created in 1957 by Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders to fight racial segregation and injustice, mainly in the South. The group focused on peaceful protests, inspired by Christian values, to challenge unfair laws and practices. The SCLC played a big part in key moments of the Civil Rights Movement, like the marches in Selma and Birmingham, helping push for change and equality for African Americans. -
Little Rock 9
Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas. In 1957, it became famous when nine Black students tried to attend a previously all-white high school, Central High. This happened during the Civil Rights Movement, and it was a big deal because the government had to send soldiers to protect the students from angry mobs who didn’t want them there. It was one of the key moments showing how hard it was to end segregation in schools. -
Greensboro Sit ins
The Greensboro sit-ins were a protest in 1960 where four Black college students sat at a whites-only lunch counter at a Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina. They weren’t served, but they refused to leave, even when people were rude to them. Their peaceful protest sparked other similar actions across the country, helping to fight against segregation and inspire the Civil Rights Movement. -
Ruby Ridges
Ruby Bridges was the first Black girl to go to an all-white school in the South. When she was just six years old, she walked into William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960, despite people yelling and protesting against her. Her bravery in facing that hate helped push forward the fight for equal education and desegregation in schools across the U.S. -
Freedom Riders
The Freedom Riders were a group of people, both Black and white, who rode buses through the South in the 1960s to challenge segregation. They sat in areas of buses where only white people were allowed, knowing they would be arrested. Despite facing violence and danger, they kept going, which helped bring more attention to racial segregation and forced the government to take action to end it. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was a huge event in 1963 where more than 250,000 people gathered in D.C. to demand equal rights and better jobs for African Americans. The highlight of the day was Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, where he talked about his vision for a world where everyone, no matter their race, would be treated equally. The march played a big role in pushing for change during the Civil Rights Movement. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a law that made it illegal to discriminate against people because of their race, skin color, religion, gender, or where they come from. It helped to end segregation in public places like schools, restaurants, and buses, and made sure everyone had equal rights at work and when voting. It was a major step toward equality and fairness for all people in the United States. -
Assassination of Malcom
Malcolm X, a prominent civil rights leader, was assassinated on February 21, 1965, in New York City. He was shot while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. The assassination was carried out by members of the Nation of Islam, the religious group Malcolm had once been a part of but had separated from due to disagreements. His death was a major loss to the civil rights movement, as Malcolm X had been a powerful advocate for Black empowerment, racial justice, and self-determination. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches (bloody Sunday)
The Selma to Montgomery marches were about fighting for the right to vote for Black people in the South. "Bloody Sunday" happened on March 7, 1965, when a group of peaceful protesters was beaten by police as they tried to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The attack was so brutal that it shocked people all over the country and got more people to support the civil rights movement. These marches eventually helped lead to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr., a key leader in the fight for civil rights, was tragically shot and killed on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when a gunman, later identified as James Earl Ray, took his life. His assassination left the country in shock and sorrow, but it also fueled the continued fight for equality and justice. King is remembered for his message of peace, love, and his commitment to nonviolent protest.