Civil Rights Events Before or During the 1960s

By Maiyas
  • 📍 1. Brown vs. Board of Education

    The Supreme Court ruled school segregation unconstitutional. It was a big win for the Civil Rights Movement.
    "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” – U.S. Supreme Court
  • 📍 2. Montgomery Bus Boycott

    📍 2. Montgomery Bus Boycott
    Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest, African Americans in Montgomery boycotted buses for over a year.
  • 📍 3. Little Rock Nine

    📍 3. Little Rock Nine
    Nine Black students faced mobs as they integrated Central High School in Arkansas.
  • 📍 4. Greensboro Sit-ins

    Four Black college students sat at a whites-only lunch counter, starting a wave of peaceful protests.
  • 📍 5. Freedom Rides

    Black and white activists rode buses together through the South to challenge segregation.
  • 📍 6. James Meredith Integrates Ole Miss

    James Meredith became the first Black student at the University of Mississippi.
  • 📍 7. March on Washington

    Over 250,000 people marched in D.C. for civil rights. MLK gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
    “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up…” – Martin Luther King Jr.
  • 📍 8. Civil Rights Act Passed

    The law banned segregation and job discrimination based on race.
  • 📍 9. Selma to Montgomery Marches

    📍 9. Selma to Montgomery Marches
    Peaceful marchers were attacked on “Bloody Sunday.” The event pushed voting rights reform.
  • 📍 10. Voting Rights Act Signed

    📍 10. Voting Rights Act Signed
    This law banned unfair voting tests and increased Black voter registration.
  • 📍 11. Fair Housing Act

    This law banned housing discrimination based on race or color.
  • 📍 12. First Black Mayor of a Major City

    Maynard Jackson became the first Black mayor of Atlanta, showing growing political power.
  • 📍 13. Affirmative Action Debates Begin

    In Regents v. Bakke, the Supreme Court ruled on race-based college admissions.
  • 📍 14. Rodney King Beating & LA Riots

    After police were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, LA erupted in protests and riots.
  • 📍 15. Election of Barack Obama

    Barack Obama became the first Black president of the United States.
    “If there is anyone out there who still doubts…”- Barack Obama
  • 📍 16. Black Lives Matter Movement Begins

    BLM started after Trayvon Martin's shooter was acquitted. It grew into a global civil rights movement.
  • 📍 18. Record Black Voter Turnout in 2020

    Black voter turnout helped elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the first Black VP.
  • 📍 17. George Floyd Protest Movement

    📍 17. George Floyd Protest Movement
    After George Floyd was killed by police, protests spread worldwide against police violence.
  • 📍 19. Juneteenth Becomes a Federal Holiday

    Juneteenth, which celebrates the end of slavery, became a national holiday.
  • 📍 20. Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice

    📍 20. Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice
    African Americans continue to fight for equality in education, jobs, and the justice system.