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This landmark Supreme Court case successfully challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. It forced the University of Texas Law School to admit African American student Heman Marion Sweatt, setting a legal precedent for desegregation in education. -
The Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) was formed to oversee the Montgomery Bus Boycott and played a crucial role in organizing the protest and advancing the civil rights agenda under Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership. -
The brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. His open-casket funeral, showing the mutilation he suffered, drew national attention to the violence and injustice faced by African Americans in the South. -
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man, this year-long boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Montgomery Improvement Association resulted in the desegregation of Montgomery’s public transportation system. -
Nine African American students faced violent mobs and opposition from Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus when they integrated Central High School in Little Rock. Federal intervention by President Eisenhower ensured their entry, marking a pivotal moment in school desegregation. -
The first federal civil rights legislation since Reconstruction aimed to protect voting rights for African Americans. It created the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. -
The SCLC, led by Martin Luther King Jr., was established to coordinate nonviolent protests and civil rights campaigns across the South, becoming a key organization in the movement. -
This Supreme Court decision reinforced that states could not nullify federal laws or Supreme Court decisions. It directly addressed the resistance to desegregation following Brown v. Board of Education, ensuring federal supremacy in civil rights matters. -
Four African American college students initiated a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their nonviolent protest inspired similar actions nationwide, becoming a hallmark of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Interracial groups of activists rode buses into the segregated South to challenge the non-enforcement of Supreme Court rulings that segregated buses were unconstitutional. These rides faced violent opposition but drew national attention to the cause. -
This desegregation campaign in Albany, Georgia, led by local activists and supported by Martin Luther King Jr., aimed to dismantle segregation in the city but faced significant resistance. Its lessons influenced later civil rights strategies. -
This Supreme Court case ruled that racial segregation on interstate buses was unconstitutional, building on earlier rulings and reinforcing the fight against transportation segregation. -
James Meredith became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. His admission was met with violent riots, requiring federal intervention to uphold his right to education. -
This campaign, led by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), used marches, sit-ins, and boycotts to protest segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Police brutality against protesters, including children, was widely televised, shocking the nation. -
Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to advocate for civil and economic rights. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech highlighted the event, which became a turning point in the movement. -
Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist and NAACP leader, was assassinated outside his home in Mississippi. His death highlighted the extreme violence faced by civil rights workers and galvanized further activism. -
This comprehensive legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. -
Aimed at increasing voter registration among African Americans in Mississippi, this campaign faced severe violence, including the murder of three activists, which underscored the dangers faced by civil rights workers. -
This Supreme Court case upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ruling that Congress could use its power to regulate interstate commerce to prohibit racial discrimination in public accommodations. -
Civil rights leader Malcolm X, known for his advocacy of Black empowerment and critique of systemic racism, was assassinated in New York City. His death marked a significant loss for the movement. -
This landmark legislation outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, used to disenfranchise African Americans. It dramatically increased voter registration in the South. -
Also known as "Bloody Sunday," this march protested voter suppression in Alabama. Violent attacks on peaceful protesters by law enforcement led to national outrage and spurred the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
James Meredith began a solo march to encourage African Americans to register to vote. After being shot and injured, the march was continued by other civil rights leaders and supporters, drawing national attention to voting rights. -
Dr. King’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, triggered nationwide riots and mourning. His death marked the end of an era and intensified calls for racial justice. -
While passed in 1968, its enforcement in the 1970s was critical in combating housing discrimination. It prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex. -
As busing and desegregation efforts moved beyond the South, northern cities like Boston saw violent protests and resistance, highlighting the nationwide challenge of achieving racial equality in education. -
The Supreme Court upheld busing as a legitimate means to achieve integration in public schools. This decision addressed ongoing de facto segregation and promoted more equitable education. -
Chisholm became the first African American woman to run for a major party’s presidential nomination. Her campaign broke barriers and highlighted issues of race and gender inequality. -
Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing home run record, facing racial threats and demonstrating resilience. His achievement symbolized progress amidst ongoing racial tensions. -
As the first African American woman elected to Congress from the South, Jordan’s powerful speech emphasized unity and equality, inspiring the nation during a politically turbulent time. -
This Supreme Court case upheld affirmative action while outlawing racial quotas in college admissions. It became a pivotal moment in the debate over equal access to education.