Civil Rights Timeline by 2026Meagan Mahan

1865- End of the American Civil War/ Start of Reconstruction

9961219 — 2024-02-21 13:14:27 UTC

As the Civil War ended, the Southern states had to reconstruct government and society. the political and social rights of the millions of newly freed Americans would become an important part of the post-war period

1919- Chicago Race Riot/Red Summer

9961219 — 2024-02-22 13:35:20 UTC

As the Great Migration became more and more prominent, a black male is killed when a white man threw rocks at him and his friends at a beach in Chicago. The police officer on scene ended up arresting a black man instead of the man who killed Eugene Williams. This started the Chicago Race Riots, 8 days, 500 injured, 38 dead (23 black and 15 white) and as the racial tension grew the summer of 1919 became known as the Red Summer.

1921- The Tulsa Massacre

9961219 — 2024-02-22 13:38:34 UTC

The Tulsa massacre was the biggest racial violence acts ever scene. It started with a white girl accusing a black teenager of touching her, that led to a riot between the blacks and whites of Greenwood, a booming economic strip in Tulsa, Arizona. The whites were not happy with this and a mob of them came storming into Greenwood killing hundreds and completely burning Greenwood to the ground. The bodies were not discovered until almost 100 years later. Many saw this as the white mob being fearful of the economic power the African Americans living in Tulsa were gaining.

1955- Emmett Till's Murder

9961219 — 2024-03-06 14:37:14 UTC

In Money, Mississippi, Emmett Till's, a boy from Chicago Illinois, came to visit his great uncle and cousins, but no one expected the gruesome turn of events for him. Due to the fact he tried to flirt with Mrs. Briant, the wife of a store owner, Mr. Briant decided to take matters into his own hands. Till was brutally beaten, he was pistol whipped and was forced to tie barbwire around his neck with a 75 pound fan attached to the barb wire. He was then shot in the side of the head and fell into the Tallahatchie river. His body was found 3 days later. With his mother's decision to have an open casket so people can see his mutilated face and body, and his uncle's decision to stand up to the Briant's it sparked a revelation with the younger generation and changed history forever.

1955-Montgomery Bus Boycott

9961219 — 2024-03-15 12:11:06 UTC

After Rosa Park's arrest, many African Americans followed MLK Jr's lead and refused to take any bus to work, this was very bad for bus company's because African American's were 90% of the majority who took the bus everyday. The boycott lasted 381 days and was maintained through organized community efforts including night meetings and a Black taxi service. Ultimately this case went to the Supreme Court, where segregation on public transportation was deemed "unconstitutional." The biggest supporters of this movement was white woman because they found solidarity with the black community, they helped black women commute home through carpooling. It also gave way to "The Green Book" a book so that African Americans can know what places except them and where they need to keep driving through.

1957- Little Rock Nine

9961219 — 2024-03-21 12:24:21 UTC

In Little Rock, Arkansas, a group of 9 African american students went to the local (whites only) high school and tried to go into the school, only to be denied. This became an entire protest the school was flooded with white protesters against the integration and the navy was sent to Arkansas to stop the kids from entering. Soon the president became involved and sent the national army to protect the kids and let them in. This became a huge part of the Civil Rights Movement because of its popularity and involvement with teenagers and kids

1960- Greensboro Four

9961219 — 2024-03-21 12:38:42 UTC

In Greensboro, North Carolina, February 1960, 4 young African american men decided to sit at a segregated counter for lunch, and they stayed there till closing with no service. When word went around about their sit-in others decided to join, within a month 55 cities were organizing sit-ins to protest segregation. The protesters needed to perform non- violence acts, which meant only sitting still while being harassed. This became a huge movement seen across the nation.

1955- Rosa Parks

9961219 — 2024-03-25 11:58:56 UTC

Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. On December 1, 1955, Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, as mandated by Jim Crow laws. Her arrest sparked a city-wide boycott of the bus system led by MLK and other civil rights leaders. The boycott lasted over a year and resulted in a Supreme Court ruling declaring segregated buses unconstitutional. Parks' act of defiance and her subsequent involvement in the civil rights movement made her an iconic figure in the fight against racial segregation and injustice in the US.

1955- Redlining

9961219 — 2024-03-25 11:59:02 UTC

Redlining refers to discriminatory practice in the US where financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, refused or limited services, like loans or insurance, to residents of certain neighborhoods or communities, typically based on their racial or ethnic composition. The term originated from the practice of marking these neighborhoods with red lines on maps, indicating high-risk areas for investment. Redlining disproportionately affected minority communities, especially African Americans and Hispanic neighborhoods by perpetuating racial segregation, limiting access to home ownership, and exacerbating economic inequality. Despite being officially outlawed with the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the legacy of redlining continues to impact housing and economic disparities in many cities across the country

1954- Brown v. Board

9961219 — 2024-03-25 11:59:10 UTC

The Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954 was a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The case was brought forward by the NAACP on behalf of Oliver Brown, a father who challenged the segregation of public schools in Topeka, Kansas, which had relegated his daughter Linda Brown to an inferior, segregated school, Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the Court's unanimous decision, stating that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. this ruling overturned the precedent set by the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Fergusson (1896) and marked a significant victory in the Civil Rights Movement. The Brown decision paved the way for desegregation and served as catalyst for subsequent civil rights legislation.

1960s- MLK/MX/Black Panthers

9961219 — 2024-03-25 11:59:23 UTC

MLK, Malcolm X, and the Black Panther Party were pivotal figures in the Civil Rights Movement, each advocating for racial equality but with distinct approaches. King championed nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, emphasizing the power of love and unity to achieve social change. Malcolm X initially a proponent of Black separatism and self-defense, later shifted towards a more inclusive approach after his pilgrimage to Mecca. The Black Panther Party, founded in 1966, focused on armed self-defense, community organizing, and empowerment, challenging systematic oppression and advocating for socioeconomic reforms within Black communities. Despite their ideological differences, all three leaders left undeniable marks on the fight for racial justice in America.

1964- Civil Rights Act (JFK/LBJ)

9961219 — 2024-03-25 11:59:36 UTC

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the US that aimed to end segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Signed into law by President Johnson, the Act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and federally funded programs. It outlawed segregation in schools and public facilities and prohibited unequal voter registration requirements (both often ignored) The act was a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement and marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for racial equality in America.

1965- Selma and Voting Rights Act

9961219 — 2024-03-25 11:59:48 UTC

On March 7th, 1965 a group of hundreds of African Americans decided to march a peaceful protest from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama-- approximately 50 miles. This was to fight for their equal voting rights, since many faced unfair and discriminatory "tests" they must answer before voting. Unfortunately the African American protesters were met with the law enforcement and were beaten down when they would not leave the () bridge, this day was then called "Bloody Sunday" later MLK led a group of protesters through this march after being protected by the president and the naval force.

1975-The Braceros Movement

9961219 — 2024-03-29 18:18:55 UTC

The Braceros Movement was a 5 year long boycott against unfair work treatment and pay many Chicanos faced when working on farms, and essentially be given the hard manual labor that others did not want to do. It sparked revolution in the eyes of many and formed a union between the Chicanos and the Filipinos who were both fighting for better working rights, after being exploited by farm owners and businessmen.

1969- The Stonewall Riot

9961219 — 2024-03-29 18:19:12 UTC

After a raid by police on the Stonewall Inn, a known gay club at the time, many people began to retaliate against police when Sylvia Rivera was arrested "aren't you guys going to do something" it led to 3 brutal and bloody nights of police vs. the LGBTQ+ community, and so began the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

1896- Plessy v. Fergusson

9961219 — 2024-04-01 12:04:01 UTC

Plessy V. Fergusson was a landmark 1896 Supreme Court case in the US that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. the ruling established segregation as lawful, setting a precedent that endured until the Civil Rights Movement challenged it in the mid-20th century,roughly around 60 years later.

1920s- Garvey, Washington, Du Bois

9961219 — 2024-04-01 12:04:18 UTC

Marcus Garvey, Booker R. Washington, and W.E.B. Du Bois were prominent African American leaders in the early 20th century, each advocating for Black empowerment but with differing ideas. Washington emphasized vocational training and economic self-reliance, Garvey promoted Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism, while Du Bois advocated for civil rights through education, political activism, and intellectual discourse.

1960- Birth Control Pill

9961219 — 2024-04-02 12:47:44 UTC

The introduction of the birth control pill in 1960 revolutionized reproductive health by providing women with a highly effective contraceptive method. Its availability empowered women to control their fertility, leading to significant social and economic changes as women gained greater control over their bodies and reproductive choices.

1972- Higher Educational Act

9961219 — 2024-04-02 12:48:17 UTC

The Higher Educational Act was the first time in history that women were lawfully protected against discrimination in educational systems and/or programs. The act made it illegal to harrass/bully/ or discriminate against females in educational programs.

1973- Roe V Wade

9961219 — 2024-04-02 12:48:51 UTC

Roe v Wade was a landmark 2973 supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. The ruling established a women's right to choose abortion within certain limits based on the constitutional right to privacy.

1996- Romer v. Evans

9961219 — 2024-04-02 12:49:34 UTC

In Romer V. Evans there was concern for a Colorado law banning anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ+ people. The court ruled in favor of this law being “unconstitutional” because it singled out one group from their rights of protection agaisnt discrimination. This case ultimately gave the LGBTQ+ community full recognition and protection against homophobic groups.