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Attorney, Thurgood Marshall, focused on ending segregation in public schools. This began with the case involving Linda Brown. She wasn't able to go to her neighborhood school and was told she had to go an all-black school across town. Her parents were able to sue the school board with the help of Thurgood Marshall. The court ruled that segregation in public school was unconstitutional. This decision showed African Americans that it was time to start challenging segregation. -
This was a protest against segregation on public transit. African American leaders formed the Montgomery Improvement Association to run the boycott. They elected Martin Luther King, Jr. as the leader. This lasted for over a year. In the end, the Supreme Court decided that segregation on buses was unconstitutional. This showed that anybody could make a difference and that small acts could create a lot of change. This also brought forth influential African American leaders. -
The Little Rock school board was required to let nine African American students go to Central High. The governor of Arkansas was upset about this and sent troops to prevent the students from entering the school. A violent mob had formed to join them. The violence caused made President Eisenhower send the Army to escort the students. This all led to more schools in Little Rock being integrated. -
Four students decided to do a sit in at a whites only restaurant. This led to a mass movement. Many African Americans started to take part in this. This movement allowed them to take matters in their own hands. Later, students realized that they should work together so they created the SNCC. They played a role in desegregating public facilities in the South and they helped register African Americans to vote. -
The Freedom Riders were sent to the South to draw attention to their refusal to integrate bus terminals. When they arrived, they were attacked by white mobs. The violence shocked many Americans. This strengthened the Civil Rights Movement's credibility. It showed how the South ignored the federal law and how far they'd go to enforce segregation. This also forced JFK to get involved and get the violence under control. -
James Meredith, an air force veteran, applied to the University of Mississippi but was denied by the governor even though he had a court order allowing it. The university refused to obey the court ruling that ended segregated education. Kennedy, frustrated by this, sent 500 federal marshals to escort Meredith, leading to a riot. Meredith went to class under federal guard for the rest of the year and graduated in August. He was the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. -
Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted a way to build more public support for Kennedy's civil rights bill so he agreed to do a march on Washington. More than 200,000 people of all races joined the march. They heard speeches, sang songs and hymns, and Dr. King gave a speech about his dream of equality. This, the peacefulness, and dignity of the march gave the bill momentum and helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
African American still faced many problems when trying to vote. Members of the SNCC and SCLC were beaten or even murdered. As a result, Dr. King and the SCLC organized a march from Selma to Montgomery to keep pressure on the president and Congress to act. While marching, they kneeled down to pray and were attacked in front of cameras. President Johnson was furious and proposed a new voting rights law. Soon after, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. -
Malcolm X became a symbol of black power in the 1960s. He joined the Black Muslims which preached black nationalism and even attempted to make their own communities. Malcolm X's criticisms led the Nation of Islam to gain attention. However, he soon left them and realized integration was possible. As a result, he was killed. But, his ideas influenced African Americans to take pride in their culture and a new generation who preached black power. This led to the creation of the Black Panthers. -
African Americans still faced problems like racism and poverty. Many of them didn't have professional jobs and didn't make as much money as white people. Their unemployment rate was higher, too. The Black Panthers were a group that believed a revolution was necessary. They wanted African Americans to arm themselves and force white people to give them equal rights. Their goal was to end racial oppression. This united African Americans together.