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Brown vs Board of Education decision.
The US Supreme Court unanimously ruled the intentional segregation of schools to be inherently unequal and as such, onconstitutional. This meant that public schools were required to accept black students into their ranks. -
The Montgomery bus boycott
After refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a bus, Rosa parks was arrested and sent to prison. This provoked a response by Martin Luther King and the busses were boycotted by all black people. This boycott laster over a year until a new president of the montgomery bus company was elected and the rules of segregation within buses were relented, not because of symathy, but for monetary reasons. -
The Little Rock Arkansas High School incident
Although integration had been legislated into place, it was not rolling out easily. There was large opposition from the white population. This climaxed at the Little Rock Arkansas High School, where 8 black boys were allowed entry. this resulted in huge protests from the white population and even provoked military intervention. One day the black students were even forced to exit quitly through a side door to avoid the mob outside. -
The march on Washington, I have a dream
Over 250,000 people march to Washinton's Lincolm Memorial to both protest and witness Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech. On the way they were violently attacked by police. This was broadcast all across American and ended as one of the largest civil rights marches ever. -
Freedom Summer
The 'Freedom Summer' project was run my large amounts of American students who sympathized with the civil rights movement. They would travel to Mississippi and promote voter registration for all people. Many problems were encountered such as an entier bus of these students being set on fire as well as the murder of 3 other students. -
The Passing of the Civil Rights Act
On this day, President Johnson passed the American civil rights act. This prohibited any form of discrimination based on race or skin colour. It also allowed wide spread desegregation and stopped racism in public facilities and jobs. -
Death of Malcolm X
A long time civil rights activist and a former associate of Martin Luther King was assassinated. Malcolm X worked for the freedom of all races and would attempt to achieve his goal by any means necessary. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches: 'Bloody Sunday'
A mob of people marching to Montgomery were stopped by police at the Edmund Pettis bridge, where hundreds of peaceful protestors were attacked with bull whips, tear gas and clubs. Because the media was present, all major tv stations immediately interrupted any happenings to report this event. -
The Voting Rights Act
Although voting had already been legalized for american blacks, it was made extremely difficult thorugh literacy tests, poll taxes and many other requirements. These were made totally illegal in the voting rights act of 1965. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
On this day, Martin Luther King, aged 39, was assassinated on the balcony of his hotel room while preparing to deliver another speech.
