-
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
In the beginning of December, 1955, buses were very segregated and certain seats of buses were reserved for whites only. An African American woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give her seat to a white man in a bus in Montgomery. She was arrested, and had to combat segregation in court. African Americans were outraged about this, and coordinated with Martin Luther King Jr. to lead a large scale boycott for transportation by bus.
Fun Fact: Martin was inspired to become a pastor by Mahondas Gandhi -
The Little Rock 9
In the September of 1957, in a school in Little Rock, Arkansas, a school of approximately 2000 white students was forced to accept 9 African American students. On the day of their arrival, the children were greeted by armed troops and angry mobs. They were initially prevented from entering the school, but eventually were allowed in. The day concluded with several of the broken windows and 2 brutally beaten African reporters.
Fun Fact: The 9 students had no other problems throughout their stay. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
With the support of Eisenhower, the Civil Rights Act was a fight for the right to vote. Himself and others believed that African Americans should have the right to vote. The bill went through congress and was passed.
Fun Fact: 2 million African Americans were now registered to vote. -
The Sit-in Movement
Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr, David Richmond, and Franklin McCain attended an African American college in Greensboro. In the January of 1960, Joseph McNeil suggested that his group of friends sat at a white-only counter with him at a nearby department store. Next month, they went and executed their plan.
Fun Fact: These acts spread across 54 different cities. -
The Freedom Riders
Even with the new laws passed, there was still segregation in the bus systems. In May, James Farmer rounded up white volunteers and supporters of the movement to travel to the south and draw attention to the bus terminals. These activites in Alabama resulted in brutal attacks by angry mobs. It was later revealed that the head of the police in Birmingham, Theophilus Eugene "Bull" Connor, had contracted the Klu Klux Klan to schedule these attacks. -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
James Meredith, African American air force veteran applied for a transfer to the University of Mississippi, but was denied by the governor, Ross Barnett. President Kennedy heard the news, and dispatched 500 marshals to escort Meredith to the school. On that night, fights broke out and 160 marshals were wounded. For the safe protection of James Meredith, Fun Fact: Kennedy kept strict guard on James to ensure his safety until his graduation in August. -
Protests in Birmingham
In the spring of 1963, various civil rights leaders banded together to discuss their disappointment in Kennedy's involvement. Kennedy avoided involvement unless violence broke out. They coordinated a public protest in Birmingham, Alabama which ended with very violent actions towards the supporters. The sight of terrified Americans convinced Kennedy to consider a new civil rights bill. -
The March on Washington
In the August of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. agreed with a suggestion by A. Philip Randolph. They agreed on a march on Washington. More than 200,000 supporters of the movement partook in this event, which built momentum for the civil rights bill. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
On November 22nd, president Kennedy was assassinated and Lyndon B. Johnson took over the role of president. With an honest intention of continuing and finishing Kennedy's work, he pushed the civil rights bill through congress and was able to sign it. The law made segregation illegal in many places and established the EEOC. -
The Selma March
In the January of 1965, Dr. King decided to use Selma, Alabama as the main focus for his campaign. To his surprise, he was only able to raise 3% of the state's votes. The Sheriff had armed and deputized many white citizens and threatened the African Americans, effectively rigging the voting process. Dr. King demanded to see the ballot. When denied, about 70 African Americans were hospitalized by state troopers and marchers. President Johnson immediately began to draft a new voting rights law. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Federal examiners were now able to register African American voters. Local officials often did not allow African Americans to vote, so this act was a big change.
Fun Fact: By 1966, the number of registered African Americans was near 250,000 voters. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
On a balconey of Memphis, Dr. King was assissinated by a sniper. Almost 100 cities began to riot because of this. King's death persuaded congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1968.