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Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in a white train car on the East Louisiana Railroad. He could've easily passed as a white man under the Louisiana law however he was considered black. This set the precedent that the minorities would be separate and considered constitutional if they were treated equally.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_plessy.html -
Brown v. Board of Education
The court case was filed against the Kansas school board since one one of the children was denied the access to Topeka's white school. He claimed that the education was not equal therefore the federal district dismissed his claim. The court case however showed how the racial segregation in schools violated the equal protection from the 14th Amendment and set the stage for other trials.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till had gone to the Bryant store when he was visiting his relatives in Mississippi. Roy Bryant and his brother-in-law, J.W. Milam kidnapped and brutally murdered Till since he had whistled at Carolyn Bryant. This provoked a movement of African Americans to join the Civil Rights Movement in order to avoid such disaster to happen to them or loved ones. -
Rosa Parks & the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks refused to move seats when the bus driver asked her to do so. The Boycotts demanded for black passenger to be treated with courtesy and much participation of the African American Community. This impacted the bus company negatively which then the Supreme Court ruled that segregating buses was illegal. -
Founding of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) & Martin Luther King
It was founded when the Alabama bus boycotts were taking place. They did a series of marches to protest segregation and discrimination. they were able to help protests in the south but not as influential when King still lived but it led for John F. Kennedy to pass the civil rights act. -
Little Rock Nine & Central High School
A white mob had gathered at the school since nine black students were going to enter school. However the governor put a blockage to prevent the students from entering. This then created the desegregation of the many schools because of the Supreme Court's decision. -
Greensboro Sit-In
The Greensboro Sit-Ins were non-violent protests in Greensboro North Carolina. They would stay at the counter, even after they got denied service, until they were able to desegregate the lunch counter. These protests created the catalyst for the formation of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)in order to bring widespread attention. -
Freedom Ride/Freedom Riders
These protests were created to keep challenging Jim Crow Segregation in the Southern states. They illuminated the courage of the black minority. On November 1, 1961 a new order went into effect which was provoked by their efforts which forced Attorney General Robert Kennedy to petition the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to outlaw segregation in interstate travel. -
March on Washington
It was created in order to promote the improvement of the economic condition of African Americans. It showed how many of the civil rights organizations had come together in Washington. This linked many of the organizations to cooperate in order to achieve their primary goal of equality and desegregation among society. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) (1961)& Freedom Summer(1964)
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had labored for civil rights in rural Mississippi since 1961. The 1964 Freedom Summer project was designed to draw the nation’s attention to the violent oppression experienced by Mississippi African Americans who attempted to exercise their constitutional rights. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
President Lyndon B. Johnson prohibited discrimination in public places. It banned discriminatory practices in employment, and it banned discrimination but the passage of the bill was not easy. This provided a better outcome for the black community. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcom X converted into the Islamic religion while in jail. However, began to not support their ideals and therefore the Nation of Islam envied him. He had a major role after his death in the African American Movement. -
Voting Rights Act (1965)
It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states. The act would clearly enforce the ideals of the 15th amendment. It provided the greatest change between the relationship between the Federal and State government in the voting areas. -
Assassination of MLK
He was assassinated by a single shot which hit the neck and face. He had gone to lead a peaceful protest in terms of fighting for the sanitation of workers. His assassination brought tremendous turmoil to the year of 1968
