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The Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a result of the unreasonable arrest of Rosa Parks for her refusal to move from a seat on a bus. African Americans rallyed together and organized a boycott against the bus system. Also, mass protests began across the US.
Fun fact: the boycott was planned at a meeting in Martin Luther King Jr.'s church. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
After the Little Rock 9 incident, Congress sent federal troops and passed this act, which was the first civil rights legislation passed by Congress in the US since the 1866 and 1875 acts. This ast signaled a growing federal commitment to the cause of civil rights. It was inteded to protect the right of African Americans to vote.
Fun fact: the US Commission on Civil Rights was formed to investigate, report on, and make recommendations to the president concerning civil rights issues. -
Little Rock 9
9 students from Little Rock, Arkansas were permitted to attend Central High, a high school with all white students. They were criticized and tormented for attending the all-white school. Officials in Little Rock refused integration and Governor Faubus ordered the 3 public school to close.
Fun fact: Ernest Greeen was the first to graduate out of these 9 students, which was the a historic moment in the African American community. -
The Sit-in Movement
After 4 young African Americans took a stand by sitting at an all-white lunch counter, many other students became a part of the sit-in movement. Soon, these sit-in movements were taking place in segragated restuarants, stores, and hotels in 54 different cities. It brought large number of idealistic and energized college students into the civil rights struggle.
Fun fact: African American students saw the potential for using thisnonviolent resistance to undermine the government. -
The Freedom Riders
The Freeodm Riders traveled into the South to draw attention to its refusal to integrate bus terminals. They were being attacked by angry white mobs at almost every bus stop. The buses were being trashed and destroyed and President Kennedy wanted to get the violence under control.
Fun fact: some Freedom Riders were recruited by CORE to challenge the state Jim Crow laws. -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
James Meredith tried to apply for a transfer to the University of Mississisppi, but he was stopped by Govenor Barnett and he refused to desegregate the university. In response, Kennedy ordered marshals to escort Meredith to the school, but they were attacked. Then, Meredtih went to the university under federal guard and graudated from the school.
Fun fact: after graduating from the school, Meredith went on to study at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria then got a lot degree from Colombia -
Protests in Birmingham
Martin Luther King Jr. was angered by the incident with James Meredith and he wanted to make Kennedy actively support civil rights. King decided to take action in Birmingham because he belived this was the only way the federal government would intervene. In his "Letter from Birmingham Jail", King explained that the protestors were following a higher moral law based on divine justice.
Fun fact: desegregation continued evevne after this, including the bombing of the 16th St. Baptist Church. -
The March on Washington
Martin Luther King Jr. knew Kennedy would have a hard time pushing his civil rights bill, so he agreed to a mach on Washington. There, Dr. King delivered his most famous "I Have A Dream" speech. The events and the march itself built momentum for the civil rights bill.
Fun fact: many celebrities were at the march, including Bob Dylan, Jackie Robinson, and more. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act was the most comprehensive civil rights law Congress had ever enacted. It gave the federal government power to prevent racial discrimination in many areas and it made segregation illegal in pubic places in most areas and gave all citiznes equal access to public facilities.
Fun fact: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. met for the first time. -
The Selma March
Selma was selected as the focal point in Dr. King's campaign for voting rights for African Americans. To keep pressure on the president and Congress to act, a "mach for freedom" was organized from Selma to Montgomery's state capitol. ON their journey, these peaceful demonstrators were beaten onlive TV, which is known as "Bloody Sunday".
Fun fact: King lead another march of 3000 protestors on March 9. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
After President Johnson viewed what happened on the Selma March, he was furious and proposed new voting rights laws. This act allowed the US attorney general to send federal examiners to register qualified voters. It also suspended discriminatory devices in countries where less than half the adults had been registered.
Fun fact: a controversy about this act is still around til today -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on his balcony of his hotel room. His assassination created national mourning and also riots in more than 100 cities. It marked the end of an era in American history.
Fun fact: King's assassination in 1968 was the second attempt on his life.
