Civil Rights Era
10 most important events
Jackie Robinson's MLB career
Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball with white men. Robinson integrated the sport by signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier in 1947.
Armed forces integrated
In July 1948, the United States Armed Forces became desegregated between black and white soldiers. Though there was tension at first, this was a sign that all the U.S. soldiers could become united as one body to protect their country, serving as an inspiration to the rest of the black population.
Sweatt vs. Painter
Sweatt vs. Painter was a supreme court case in 1950 which ruled that having separate colleges for blacks was not an equal constitutional opportunity. This began when African-American student Heman Sweatt was denied acceptance to the University of Texas because he was black. He sued Theophilius Painter, the University's president.
Brown vs. Board of Education
In 1954, African American Oliver Brown sued the board of Topeka, Kansas education because of education segregation. The supreme court ruled that segregation in public schools was unequal and unconstitutional, reversing the result of Plessy vs. Ferguson.
Rosa Parks denies Bus Seat
In 1955, 42-year-old African American seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white woman on a public bus. The commotion caused by this action not only got Parks arrested, but also caused the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Montgomery Bus Boycott
From 1955-1956 Montgomery, Alabama experienced a boycott of public busses by the African American population and their supporters. The boycott was sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat, and ended with the resolution of the Bowder vs. Gayle trial.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Formed in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the SCLC focused on mobilizing the power of the black churches on behalf of black rights.
Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Protests
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was particularly known for his divinity in speeches and peaceful protesting of civil rights, including his 1963 'I have a Dream' speech that would capture the hearts of millions of viewers around the country.
Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were a brave group of nine African American students who were denied from enrolling in Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas by the Governor Orval Faubus in 1957. President Eisenhower sent troops to escort them to class, for this was law.
SNCC FORMED
The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was formed in 1960 by southern black students who demanded equal rights as students in integrated schools, such as being able to purchase food from the cafeteria.