We've Come A Long Way: "Pivotal Points in African American History" By JCamille78 Aug 20, 1619 Slavery comes to the U.S. Jan 1, 1863 Civil War & Emancipation May 18, 1896 Separate but equal (Plessy v. Ferguson) May 17, 1954 Brown V. Board of Education Aug 6, 1965 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Jan 1, 1972 Shirley Chisholm for President Jan 20, 2001 Colin Powell becomes Secretary of State Jan 20, 2009 Barack H. Obama becomes 44th U.S. President