13th Amendment 1865
The 13th amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. This amendment abolished all forms of slavery in the United States.
15th Amendment 1875
The 15th amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870, but it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the majority of African Americans living in the south were registered and able to vote.
Plessy vs. Ferguson 1896
On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in the white car of the East Louisiana Railroad. Plessy was arrested and took his case to the Supreme Court where he argues the Separate Car Act violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendment. In 1896, The Plessy decision stated that "separate" facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were "equal”.
The 13th amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. This amendment abolished all forms of slavery in the United States.
15th Amendment 1875
The 15th amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870, but it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the majority of African Americans living in the south were registered and able to vote.
Plessy vs. Ferguson 1896
On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in the white car of the East Louisiana Railroad. Plessy was arrested and took his case to the Supreme Court where he argues the Separate Car Act violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendment. In 1896, The Plessy decision stated that "separate" facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were "equal”.
Jackie Robinson 1919
Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia where his family was the only black family on the entire block. They were constantly discriminated, but it only made their family stronger. From a young age, Jackie excelled in all sports and in high school, he was the first athlete to win varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football, and track. Nevertheless he was not able to finish college due to financial difficulties and decided to join the U.S. Army. He was successful there, but his time was cut short and he left the army due to incidents of racial discrimination. In 1941, Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, asked Jackie about playing for his team and he agreed. His legacy as a baseball player is one of the most important in American history. By the end of his first season, he had become National League Rookie of the Year with 12 home runs, 29 steals, and .297 average. But most importantly, by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier that had segregated blacks and whites for over 50 years.
Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia where his family was the only black family on the entire block. They were constantly discriminated, but it only made their family stronger. From a young age, Jackie excelled in all sports and in high school, he was the first athlete to win varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football, and track. Nevertheless he was not able to finish college due to financial difficulties and decided to join the U.S. Army. He was successful there, but his time was cut short and he left the army due to incidents of racial discrimination. In 1941, Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, asked Jackie about playing for his team and he agreed. His legacy as a baseball player is one of the most important in American history. By the end of his first season, he had become National League Rookie of the Year with 12 home runs, 29 steals, and .297 average. But most importantly, by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier that had segregated blacks and whites for over 50 years.
CORE is Founded 1942
The Congress of Racial Equality was founded in 1942 by James Farmer who was black and George Houser who was white. The founders of CORE were deeply influenced by Gandhi's teachings of nonviolent resistance. CORE began protests against segregation in public restaurants and businesses by organizing sit-ins. It used the strategy of nonviolent direct action like sit-ins, jail-ins, and freedom rides. Through sit-ins and picket lines, CORE had success in integrating northern public facilities in the 1940s. In 1942, CORE expanded nationally, but it focused most of its energy in the south. With all its successes over the years, it was necessary to strengthen the national organization, so James Farmer became the first National Director of CORE in 1953. In April of 1947, CORE sent eight white men and eight black men into the upper South to test a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation in interstate travel unconstitutional and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Overall, CORE successfully integrated many restaurants, theaters, and public facilities.
Arrest of Malcolm X 1946
Malcolm Little was a trouble some child who moved to New York to where he began work as a hustler. He later than moved to Boston where he became a burglar and was eventually arrested. Going to jail completely changed his way of living and began to practice the Islamic religion. When sent on parole he changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X because the last name Little was gave to by one of this slave owners. He stops his white teachings and becomes and icon for racial empowerment.
Executive Order 9981 1948
Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman. It abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the services.
Brown vs. Board of Education 1954
This case took on segregation within school systems, or the separation of white and black students within public schools. Up until this case, many states had laws establishing separate schools for white students and another for black students. The Supreme Court decided those laws were unconstitutional.
Murder of Emmett Till (1955)
In August 1955, a fourteen year old African American boy named Emmett Till whistled at a white woman. A few days later in the middle of the night Till was taken from his home and later was found in the Tallahatchie River. He was severely beaten and his crushed-in head had a bullet in it.
The Congress of Racial Equality was founded in 1942 by James Farmer who was black and George Houser who was white. The founders of CORE were deeply influenced by Gandhi's teachings of nonviolent resistance. CORE began protests against segregation in public restaurants and businesses by organizing sit-ins. It used the strategy of nonviolent direct action like sit-ins, jail-ins, and freedom rides. Through sit-ins and picket lines, CORE had success in integrating northern public facilities in the 1940s. In 1942, CORE expanded nationally, but it focused most of its energy in the south. With all its successes over the years, it was necessary to strengthen the national organization, so James Farmer became the first National Director of CORE in 1953. In April of 1947, CORE sent eight white men and eight black men into the upper South to test a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation in interstate travel unconstitutional and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Overall, CORE successfully integrated many restaurants, theaters, and public facilities.
Arrest of Malcolm X 1946
Malcolm Little was a trouble some child who moved to New York to where he began work as a hustler. He later than moved to Boston where he became a burglar and was eventually arrested. Going to jail completely changed his way of living and began to practice the Islamic religion. When sent on parole he changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X because the last name Little was gave to by one of this slave owners. He stops his white teachings and becomes and icon for racial empowerment.
Executive Order 9981 1948
Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by President Harry S. Truman. It abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the end of segregation in the services.
Brown vs. Board of Education 1954
This case took on segregation within school systems, or the separation of white and black students within public schools. Up until this case, many states had laws establishing separate schools for white students and another for black students. The Supreme Court decided those laws were unconstitutional.
Murder of Emmett Till (1955)
In August 1955, a fourteen year old African American boy named Emmett Till whistled at a white woman. A few days later in the middle of the night Till was taken from his home and later was found in the Tallahatchie River. He was severely beaten and his crushed-in head had a bullet in it.
Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955-1956
The Montgomery bus boycott was a 13 month, nonviolent protest coordinated by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). The boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks in 1955. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional
The Montgomery bus boycott was a 13 month, nonviolent protest coordinated by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). The boycott was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks in 1955. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional
Ruby Bridges 1960
Ruby Bridges was the first black student at the formerly all-white William Frantz Public School in New Orleans. In kindergarten, her whole grade was given a test to see which students would be chosen to go to an integrated school for first grade, and Ruby was one of the few who passed. When September came, Ruby was escorted to school by marshals who stood around her, protecting her from the mob of white parents standing outside, furious that she was there. They shouted and threatened her as she walked in; one woman even held a coffin with a black baby doll inside. Despite what people thought of her, she continued to go to school where she was taught alone in a separate classroom. Because of Ruby’s bravery, the mob of protestors slowly stopped showing up and by the next year, there were none and other black students were able to attend the school as well.
Ruby Bridges was the first black student at the formerly all-white William Frantz Public School in New Orleans. In kindergarten, her whole grade was given a test to see which students would be chosen to go to an integrated school for first grade, and Ruby was one of the few who passed. When September came, Ruby was escorted to school by marshals who stood around her, protecting her from the mob of white parents standing outside, furious that she was there. They shouted and threatened her as she walked in; one woman even held a coffin with a black baby doll inside. Despite what people thought of her, she continued to go to school where she was taught alone in a separate classroom. Because of Ruby’s bravery, the mob of protestors slowly stopped showing up and by the next year, there were none and other black students were able to attend the school as well.
Greensboro Sit-in 1960
Early that year, a non-violent protest by young African-American students at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, sparked a sit-in
movement that soon spread to college towns throughout the region. Though many of the protesters were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct or disturbing
the peace, their actions made an immediate and lasting impact, forcing Woolworth's and other establishments to change their segregationist policies.
Early that year, a non-violent protest by young African-American students at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, sparked a sit-in
movement that soon spread to college towns throughout the region. Though many of the protesters were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct or disturbing
the peace, their actions made an immediate and lasting impact, forcing Woolworth's and other establishments to change their segregationist policies.