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Mendez vs. Westminster
The Federal Court ruled that segregation of Mexican American children in California was unconstitutional. This was significant in desegregation, not only for African Americans but for Mexican Americans as well. -
Desegregation of Military
During WW2, significant groups, such as the Tuskegee Airmen—mainly African American men—paved their way to equality by proving their significance in the war. Following WW2, Truman signed Executive Order 9981, mandating equal treatment for all people in the military. -
Hernandez v. Texas
Prior to the ruling, Mexicans were considered "white" but still discriminated against. In this ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that Mexican Americans are protected under the 14th Amendment. This directly addressed an issue where Mexican Americans weren't allowed to serve on Jury Duty in Jackson County, Texas. This was significant for Mexican Americans' civil rights. -
Brown v. Board
The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. This paved the way for segregation to end for African Americans. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Teenage Emmett Till was murdered in 1955 after getting caught whistling at a white woman, who exaggerated his actions. The murder of Emmett Till, executed because of his race, brought nationwide attention to racial discrimination. -
Indian Relocation Act
This act was signed in an attempt to "reverse" the Indian Removal Act. This act encouraged Indians to leave their reservations and assimilate into urban culture. It aimed to integrate Native Americans into the workforce help them get jobs, but as a result lost a lot of their culture. -
FDA Approves Birth Control Pill
The FDA finally approved the birth control pill, giving women more reproductive rights and freedoms. This allowed women to join the workforce in mass post-WW2. -
Bilingual Education Act
This act allowed the funding of educational programs to teach students who aren't very proficient in English how to speak English. -
Indian Civil Rights Act
This act was similar to Hernandez v. Texas, applying the 14th Amendment to Native Americans. This is also sometimes referred to as the "Indian Bill of Rights," protecting Native Americans within tribal governments. -
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Occupation of Alcatraz Island
This was an act of civil disobedience/activism where the Native American group "Indians of All tribes" occupied the former prison, holding it as "Indian Land." They were protesting issues such as land dispossession, termination policies, and cultural assimilation. -
Indian Self-determination & Education Assistance Act
This act grants federal recognition for Indian tribes to have greater control over the federal programs and services they receive. This granted the ability for them to contract with the government for programs rather than the government directly implementing them. -
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson
During this case, the Supreme Court stated further that sexual harassment-- creating a hostile work environment-- is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title VII. This was significant in establishing a cause of action for sex discrimination and in determining that creating a hostile work environment is a form of sex discrimination in the workplace. -
Obama Elected President
Barack Obama's election as president was significant and proved to be a breakthrough for African Americans, as he was the first black president of the United States. -
Sonia Sotomayor Appointed SCOTUS Judge
Sonia Sotomayor was appointed the third woman, first Hispanic, and first Latina to the Supreme Court. As appointed by Obama, this was significant for the Hispanic and Latin communities. -
Military Lifts Combat Ban on Women
In 2013, the military lifted it's ban on women in combat roles that had been in place since 1994. This was a significant step towards equality for women within the military-- allowing them to serve in roles such as artillery, infantry, and armor.