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Emmett Till
Emmett Till was a 14 year old boy from Chicago traveling to Mississippi with his cousin Curtis Jones on August 21,1955. While in Mississippi he said, "bye baby" to a white woman in the store. Later on some men came and got him and he never returned. Four days later his body was found mutilated in a river. -
Montgomerey Bus Boycott
Montgomerey Bus Boycott began in 1955 because Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. At the time buses were segregated; whites were in the front and blacks were in the back. The boycott meant no blacks were to ride on segregated buses so they rode black taxis and started carpool services, or walked. -
Little Rock Nine
Little Rock, Arkansas schoolboard agreed to start integrating schools but on September 5, Faubus resisted integration. He knew that nine black students would be attending Central High so he sent the National Guard to only let white students into the school. Eisenhower then removed the National Guard and the students went to school. They faced threats, one retaliated, and Ernest Green graduated that year. -
The Sit-Ins of 1960
The Sit-Ins of 1960 took place in Nashville, Tenneessee on February 1. Four black students sat down at a counter for whites only and refused to leave. Even though they were denied service they sat there all day studying. The police did nothing to protect the students but they still stayed true to nonviolence and ended up being arrested. After the sit-ins they were allowed to be served at the counters and later formed SNCC. -
Freedom Rides
Many people joined the freedom rides in 1960. CORE members boarded buses to take a trip through the South. They tried using white facilities along the way and during the rides they experienced harassment and mobs. Although they were beat during the rides they still remained nonviolent. -
The Albany Movement
The Albany Movement of 1961 led to mass arrests and was led by William G. Anderson. MLK Jr. was invited to the movement and was later arrested. Prichett paid King's fine and he was later released. King then left Albany and the movement was unsuccessful. -
"Bull" Connor
"Bull" Connor was Birmingham police chief and he sent firefighters to hose a group of children demonstrators. He continued those actions for the next week and hundreds of demonstrators were jailed. -
MLKs Letters from Birmingham Jail
MLKs letters from Birmingham jail was in response to the city's newspaper article slandering King's actions. King was released 8 days later on bond. He then decided to use children so that the adults would not lose their jobs by going to jail. May 2children began marching on Birmingham and were arrested. -
Civil Rights Act 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned segregation and discrimination in public facilities. This act allowed blacks equal voting requirements. The Civil Rights Act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision and blacks were not to be judged at work based on race, gender, religion, or national origin. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed all literacy tests used to exclude blacks from voting. Federal supervision of voter registration was authorized and federal workers were allowed to vote.
