Civil Rights Timeline

  • Brown v. Board of Education Ruling

    Brown v. Board of Education Ruling

    Legislation/Supreme Court Case, Protest
    It argued that segregation in schools was unequal. It prohibited segregation in schools and called it unconstitutional.
  • Montgomery Bus Boycott

    Montgomery Bus Boycott

    No violence, Protest
    African-Americans refused to ride buses in Montgomery, Alabama. It was protesting the racial inequality on public transportation.
  • Black Churches and Homes Bombed

    Black Churches and Homes Bombed

    Violence by Opposition
    White people were angry about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. They bombed 4 black churches and the homes of civil rights leaders.
  • Cooper v. Aaron Decision

    Cooper v. Aaron Decision

    Legislation/Supreme Court Case
    This was the day that they decided this case. It said that a threat of mob violence is not a reason to delay segregation in schools.
  • MLK and His Wife Visit India

    MLK and His Wife Visit India

    No violence, Achievement
    They visited the homeland of Mahatma Gandhi, a non-violent activist for independence. MLK talked to Gandhi´s followers about the philosophy of non-violence.
  • Freedom Riders

    Freedom Riders

    Violence by Protesters
    Seven black and six white activists got on a Greyhound bus in Washington D.C. They were testing out the declaration that segregation on interstate transportation facilities was unconstitutional. The Freedom Riders faced violence from police officers and white protesters.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Achievement, Legislation/Supreme Court Case

    It prohibited discrimination due to race, religion, color, sex, or national origin. It prohibited this discrimination in the workplace.
  • Bloody Sunday

    Bloody Sunday

    Violence by Protesters
    Protesters in Alabama were injured and killed by police. Dozens were hospitalized and severely injured.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Legislation/Supreme Court Case
    This law banned voter literacy tests and allowed federal examiners in certain voting jurisdictions. Poll taxes were later declared unconstitutional.
  • Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Violence by Opposition
    MLK was one of the most prominent civil rights leaders. He was shot while standing on a motel balcony.
  • Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education

    Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education

    Legislation/Supreme Court Case

    The US Supreme Court unanimously upheld the programs that sped up the racial integration of US public schools. About 10 families were involved in the case.
  • Congressional Black Caucus is Established

    Congressional Black Caucus is Established

    Achievement
    It was established in Washington D.C. There were 13 founding members.
  • Thomas Bradley Elected Mayor

    Thomas Bradley Elected Mayor

    Achievement
    Bradley was elected mayor in Los Angeles. He was the first African-American to hold this position and he was re-elected 4 times.
  • National Black Feminist Organization is Formed

    National Black Feminist Organization is Formed

    Achievement
    It was formed by Florynce "Flo" Kennedy and Margaret Sloan-Hunter. It addressed problems and discrimination hat Black Women faced.
  • University of California Regents v. Bakke Decision

    University of California Regents v. Bakke Decision

    Legislation/Supreme Court Case
    The court ruled that affirmative action can be used to handle situations of past discrimination. It declares that race could be a determining factor in college admissions, but rejects the use of racial quotas.