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Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy simply refused to sit in a Jim Crow car, which was considered breaking the law in Louisiana in 1892. The court ruled that as long as they were “equal,” segregation was legal. This case would mark the beginning of a revolution where African Americans did not fall so easily under oppression. -
Brown v. Boaard of Education
Oliver Brown represented the children who were denied access to a white school, claiming that the racial segregation violated the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, however, the federal court dismissed his claim. Brown then appealed to the Supreme Court who reviewed this, and made the decision that racial segregation in public schools did violate the Fourteenth Amendment. Thanks to this case, today, everyone has the ability of attending a school that is both racially and culturally diverse. -
The murder of Emmett Till
A fourteen year old African American was brutally beaten and shot to death by Rob Bryant and J. W. Milam, whom kidnapped him from his uncle’s house four days after whistling at Carolyn Bryant. In court, they plead innocent in front of a 12 all-white man jury, and were acquitted. This is relevant and important to today because it was the first time white and black reporters worked together to bring justice to the case, it also unionized the nation. -
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks would “trigger” a revolution in Montgomery, with the simple act of denying to give up her seat for a white person, which lead to her arrest, and being fined. Four days after this event, a bus boycott would commence where African Americans did not use the bus as means of transportation. This event would lead to the bus system being integrated, also unveiling the realization of the importance of African Americans in the economy. -
Founding of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) & Martin Luther King
The SCLC as founded in order to be able to form more tactics and strategies to protest inequality among the people, issues of war, and poverty. In the beginning, the organization struggled, and would soon expand with freedom rides and student sit in movements. The SCLC would impact the nation as it introduced and encouraged people to fight for the equality they deserved, paving the way for other movements as well. -
Little Rock Nine and Central High School
A total of nine back students enrolled at a former all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas, testing the unconstitutionality of segregation. The governor of the city called in the National Guard in order to attempt to prohibit the nine students from entering the premises, however, President Eisenhower overruled this with sending federal troops. This event would lead to prove that the government, as in the president is now enforcing the law, helping African Americans. -
Greensboro Sit-In
The Greensboro sit-in was a non-violent protest made by young African-American students at a lunch counter in North Carolina who refused to sit in a specified area to be served. Even though they were beaten and arrested, they still had an impact. This protest would lead to Woolworth’s and other locations to change segregation policies. -
Freedom Ride/Riders
A group off civil rights activists, both African American and white began a series of bus trip throughout the southern region in a form of protest against segregation in buses. The activists attempted to do things that allegedly only the opposite race as able to do legally. The group of civil rights activists had an impact that would draw attention that there as actually unity among both races despite the gap. -
March on Washington
The march on Washington was a rally held in order to shed light towards the changes that African Americans still faced despite the laws that were passed in order to cause positive change. Martin Luther King would give his “I Have a Dream” speech, which would revolutionize and ignite calls for further change. This event would demand more justice and equality for African Americans across the nation. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was a Mississippi project organized in order to be able to increase and encourage voter registration among African Americans in the southern region. However, this project went through a large amount of takebacks due to the KKK and police authorities carrying out violent attacks, and the murder of at least three civil right activists. This event would further divide the people, and cause them to doubt in the power of nonviolent acts. -
Civil Rights Act
The civil rights act of 1964 would segregation in public locations and banned employment discrimination. The passing of this act meant that African Americans are now being able to experience more freedom from the restrictions and oppressive acts that they were being paced towards. Today, many would consider that the act is the gateway that would encourage many other movements to requesting equal treatment. -
Assasination of Malcolm X
The assassination of Malcolm X was caused due towards the change in his religious beliefs, and his perspective alternating from all whites being evil towards not all. Malcolm X stood out in civil rights leaders because he preached that African Americans should defend themselves if they’re placed in harm’s way. His assassination would propel civil rights faster towards attention. -
Voting Rights Act
The voting rights act of 1965 was signed by president Lyndon b. Johnson in order to be able to back up African Americans when they would decide to exercise their right to vote. The act would give African Americans a voice when they choose to vote in presidential elections and so on. The passing of this act is a huge factor and a step into the direction of equal treatment in the government point. -
Assasination of MLK
MLK was assassinated because of his position and effect towards civil rights, demanding equality and justice throughout means of sit ins, boycotts, and protest marches in a peaceful manner. Many would mourn his death, and even riots broke out in opposition towards his passing. His death would impact the nation in that it called for a time to speed up the process of holding a more equal system to anyone whom being discriminated against.
