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Founding of the NAACP
In 1909, the Nation Associaction for the Advancement of Colored People was founded. During the heat of the civil rights movement, the 1950s and 60s, the NAACP won many major leagal battles regarding colored people. One of their biggest victories was Brown vs. Board of Education. The NAACP would leave a lasting impact on the civil rights era by there many victories including outlawing segregation in school, anti-lynching law, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibited discrimintaion. -
Harlem Rennisance
After the first World War and the start of the 20th century, many African Americans moved north, called the Great Migration. A big settleing point for African Americans was Harlem, New York. In Harlem, African American culture including music, literature, and more began to flourish. The Harlem Rennisance allowed African Americans to express themselves and share their own views and created a lasting impact on African Americans that we still see to this day. -
Jesse Owens Wins 4 Olyimpic Gold Metals
"Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it and you'll start believing it." This would be said by Jesse Owens after winning 4 gold medals in the 1936 summer Olympics. What would make this event even more important is the context behind this event. The 1936 Olympics would take place in Germany where the Aryan race is superior. -
Harry Truman Ends Segregation in the Military
Harry Truman ending segregation in the military is very important because before he did this, many African Americans were able to serve in the military just like everyone else. However, they were separated from men who were not of color and many of them served in minimal roles. On July 26, President Truman would signed Executive Order 9981. This would leave a lasting impact on the civil rights movement because now, people of color were equal to those without regarding the military. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Before this event took place, many schools separated whites and people of color from each other and were bias to those not of color. After this case was reviewed, the Supreme Court recognized that it was unconstitutional for there to be any sort of segregation in schools in the United States. This would leave a lasting impact on African Americans and the civil rights movement because schools would no longer be segregated. -
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to get up out of her seat for a white person to take it. This was significant because at the time, this was the law in Montgomery and she broke that rule fully knowing of the consequences that would follow. After this she became a long-lasting member of the NAAPC. -
Little Rock Nine
After the desegregation of schools, 9 African American students enrolled at Little Rock Central Highschool. On the students 1st day of school, they were met by a large mob of white students and many soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard blocking the entrance to the school. This would leave an impact on the civil rights movement because of the attention it drew internationally to racism, especially to racism in schools. -
Biloxi Wade-Ins
The Biloxi Wade-Ins was a very important event in the Civil Rights because it was a protest that was led and conducted by African Americans. Why they were doing this was so that they could desegregate beaches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In the year 1964 the beaches of Biloxi were officially desegregated and in 1968, the Biloxi beaches were opened to all races. -
"I Have a Dream" speech
On August 28,1963, Martin Luther King Jr would give his inspirational "I Have a Dream" speech in D.C. Kings's original ideas for the speech surrounded around the sufferings of African Americans, but that would change after meeting with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Jackson would inspire King to talk about his dreams. Martins speech would leave a lasting impact becuase it influenced the goverment to start getting involved in ensuring equality. -
Martin Luther King Jr Assasination
On the 4th of April, 1968, Martin Luther King was assisnated on his rooms balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Becuase of this, there were massive outbreaks of racial violence. Martin Luther Kings assasination would leave a lasting impact on the civil rights movement, inspiring African Americans to stand up for themselves even in the face of death. President Lyndon Johnson would dedicate April 7 to be a day of remeberance and reflection of M.L.K and what he did for the Civil Rights Mov. -
Jessie Owens is introduced into the Alabama Hall of Fame
Jessie Owens was the first African American, and only American to win 4 track and field gold medals in one single Olympics. In 1970 Jessie Owens was represented in the Alabama hall of fame. Alabama takes great pride in his accomplishments and says he is one of the best athletes in the state. Without the civil rights movement happening 2 years prior, he would not have been recognized for this award, let alone participate in the Olympics. -
Thurgood Marshall Becomes The 1st Person of Color on the Supreme Court
Thurgood Marshall was the first African American supreme court judge. He was a judge from 1970-1991. Prior to the civil rights movement colored people were seen as less of a person than white people and would have never been allowed to be in a position of power. But before becoming a judge, Marshall was a progressive attorney who helped end segregation in schools. Marshall was an advocate for civil rights and when he became a judge, he continued to advocate for people's civil rights. -
Astronaut Guion Bulford becomes the first black person in space.
Guion Bulford was the first African American in space. He owes that journey to the people that fought for his rights. Prior to the civil rights movement, all of the extravagant jobs belonged to white people. No business wanted to hire a colored person for important positions. So, without the civil rights movement, Guion Bulford would never have become an astronaut. -
Shirley Chisholm Retires From Congress
Shirley Chisholm is the first woman to be elected to congress. She was elected to be a politician in 1968. After 15 years of work, Shirley finally retired in 1983. She paved the way for other African American politician like her. Not only did she go through the struggles of being African American, but she also went through being a woman at this time. Her courage and passion are like nobody else's. She also showed how even woman can have lots of power, and still do a great job. -
The Cosby Show
This is an important event in history because this was the first time a tv series was successful with a mostly African American class. With out the civil rights movement people would never have let there be a show with mostly black people. Before the civil rights movement there were barely any African American people on tv. This showed not only an African American family but one that was successful and was living as middle class citizens. -
Douglas Wilder Becomes the First Black Governor
Douglas Wilder was born 1931 and faced many challenges regarding discrimination and his race. Douglas wilder was the first black person to become the governor of a state. Before the civil rights movement, black people were not allowed to be in positions of power in government. Wilder grew up in a time where Jim Grow laws prohibited him from doing normal things. Wilder wanted to make a difference in the political system and eventually he got his chance when he was elected governor of Virginia. -
Rosa Parks is Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Rosa Parks is one of the people who changed to world for all African Americans. She fought for her freedom and was relentless. She is one of the biggest people that paved the way for all African Americans. This award is only given to the people that the president selects. This award is one of the biggest accomplishments anyone could win. Rosa is also known as the “the mother of the civil rights movement” because of how much she contributed to this major issue. -
Maya Angelou Wins Her 3rd Grammy Award
Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis. Later in her life she had 3 grammy awards, one in 1994, 1996, and 2003 for audio books, narration, and storytelling. Maya has inspired many people and shows, no matter what race you are you can still achieve your dream. Without the civil rights movement, Maya Angelou would have never been able to win the Grammys because prior to the movement, black people were not allowed to participate in the Grammys. -
Jackie Robinson Wins the Congressional Gold Medal
Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player and paved the way for future African American players. This is because he was criticized so that other African American athletes could be comfortable in their field and not go what he went through. In 1949 he was the league's most valuable player, and as an African American, that was unheard of. If it wasnt for the civil rights movement, Jackie would never have been able to get this reward, or let alone play in the MLB. -
Obama’s Wins Presidential Election and Becomes the First African American President
Obama was elected to be the 1st African American president. This is a huge event because now the most powerful man in America was an African American man. This is crazy because 100 years ago African American could not even be in the same school and other white kids. Even during Obama’s presidency, he had a bunch of criticism for being an African American. He had to continue through these struggles and show race does not change what you can do.