Timeline of the Civil Rights Movement by Jessica Hoang

Christian Missionaries: 1830s

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-14 00:13:15 UTC

After the arrival of the British colony on Australian soil in the 1830s, missions were created by the church or individuals with a religious identity to house Aboriginal people from settlement danger and try to convert them into Christians and prepare them to be put into white society to work menial jobs. In the 19th and 20th centuries, many Aboriginals were forced from their families and separated into different areas to be put into missions (AIATSIS, 2022). The lands that missionaries were on were usually provided by the government. In these missionaries, children were only taught the ways of Christianity and European culture and were forbidden to know about their own culture and beliefs. After their time as missionaries, men and women were forced into low waging jobs such as domestic servants or farmers. Up until the 1970s, these Christian missions were still ongoing (Christian Missions and Indigenous Australia, 2019).

and, A 2022, Missions, stations and reserves, AIATSIS, viewed 19 June 2023, <https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/missions-stations-and-reserves#:~:text=Missions%20were%20often%20created%20by,the%20government%20for%20this%20purpose.>.

‌Video Details - ClickView Library of Educational Videos 2020, ClickView AU, viewed 19 June 2023, <https://www.clickview.com.au/curriculum-libraries/video-details/?id=35851615&cat=3708544&library=secondary>.

The Day of Mourning Protests: January 26, 1938

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-14 00:13:21 UTC

The “Day of Mourning” protests in 1938 were a major turning point in the history of Indigenous Australians that took place on the 26th of January which is also Australia Day. It was organized by the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) and was held in response to the 150th anniversary of the First Fleet, which was also the day the Indigenous nation lost its culture and freedom (AIATSIS, 2023). The indigenous saw the 26th of January as a day of mourning, whereas from the perspective of the non-indigenous saw it as a day worth celebrating. The protests took place in two locations, Sydney and Cummeragunja. Conferences held in Sydney organized by the APA would discuss the rights of Indigenous peoples while in Cummeragungja took peaceful marches.

and, A 2023, The 1938 Day of Mourning, AIATSIS, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/day-of-mourning#:~:text='The%2026th%20of%20January%2C%201938,white%20invaders%20of%20this%20country.>.

The 1967 Referendum: 27 May 1967

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:16:38 UTC

The 1967 referendum in Australia, also known as the “Aboriginal Referendum” was an event that spark much change within the country’s history. Its purpose was to amend the Australian constitution to be more inclusive towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the national census and also grant the federal government powers to create laws for the benefit of those people. Before the referendum, the Indigenous people of Australia were not considered to be citizens of the country. They faced an endless hoard of discrimination and segregation and were always put at a disadvantage. On May 27, 1967, when the referendum was held; an overwhelming majority of Australians voted for the proposed changes. Over 90% of Australians voted in favor, making the “Aboriginal Referendum” one of the most successful in Australia’s history (Rothwell, 2017).

Rothwell, N 2017, Renewing the faith of 67, Theaustralian.com.au, The Australian, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/inquirer/renewing-the-faith-of-67-indigenous-recognition-remains-elusive/news-story/afa3f7ee6322014a61959458a6de82f2>.

The Aboriginal Tent Embassy: January 26, 1972

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:20:34 UTC

On January 26, 1972, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was a protest site located on the lawn in front of the Parliament House in Canberra, during protests fighting and advocating for Indigenous Australians’ land rights and equality (Acton, 2015). This was a retort back at the government for refusing to acknowledge Aboriginal land rights and addressing the socio-economic issues faced by Indigenous communities. Erecting serval tents outside Parliament House that displayed various Indigenous nations, the Embassy became a significant symbol of activism in Australian history. As a focal place for rallies, protests, and conversations on Indigenous rights, land rights, and reconciliation, the Embassy came to represent Indigenous activism. The Embassy has experienced both peaceful rallies and conflicts with officials throughout the years.

‌Acton, C 2015, ‘Aboriginal Tent Embassy’, Nma.gov.au, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aboriginal-tent-embassy#:~:text=On%2026%20January%201972%20four,approach%20to%20Indigenous%20land%20rights.>.

editor 2012, Solidarity Online, Solidarity Online, viewed 23 June 2023, .

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Eddie Mabo and the recognition of native title rights for Indigenous People: 1992

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:24:29 UTC

Born on June 29, 1936, on the island of Mer, Eddie Mabo is a renowned Aboriginal activist and was a major land rights campaigner. He had a strong passion for land rights and became an advocate for the rights of Indigenous people, particularly focusing on their land rights. Eddie Mabo and a group of Meriam individuals, to which he belonged, filed a lawsuit against the Queensland government in 1982, opposing the belief of terra nullius, which holds that Australia was 'no man's land' before European settlers arrived. Before the British arrived, Mabo claimed that indigenous peoples had owned and inhabited the region for thousands of years. After a long and grueling battle with the High Court of Australia, it made its decision on June 3rd, 1992, recognizing that the Meriam people are entitled to their native rights to their land and removed the concept of terra nullius(Indigenous Australia, 2016). Even though Eddie passed before the High Court ruling, his legacy still lives on as one of the most impactful activists for land rights.

Biography - Edward Koiki (Eddie) Mabo - Indigenous Australia 2016, Anu.edu.au, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/mabo-edward-koiki-eddie-16122>.

The Apology of the Stolen Generations: February 13, 2008

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:27:26 UTC

One of the most important events of the decade was the formal Apology of the Stolen Generation made by the prime minister, Kevin Rudd. The apology took place on February 13, 2008, and was given on behalf of the Australian government dedicated to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially regarding the members of the Stolen Generation (Acton, 2023). Prime Minister Rudd acknowledged in his speech the harm that the forced removals had caused to Indigenous families and communities. He apologized profusely for the pain, suffering, and cultural loss brought on by separating children from their parents, siblings, and cultural origins. The apology also recognized the lasting harm caused to Indigenous communities by the Stolen Generations' severe trauma.

Montgomery Bus Boycott 2017, The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/montgomery-bus-boycott>.

Brown vs Board: May 17 1954

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:32:33 UTC

Brown vs Board of Education is widely regarded as one of the most significant cases in the civil rights movement and played a crucial role in ending racial segregation within schools in America. The case originated in Topeka, Kansas, where Linda Brown, a young African American girl, was denied admission to a nearby all-white elementary school due to her race. Linda's father, Oliver Brown, along with other parents, challenged the segregation policy in public schools, arguing that it violated the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause (Britannica, 2023). The case was heard by the supreme court, which ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. The Brown v. Board of Education decision overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine, which had allowed for racial segregation as long as the separate facilities were deemed equal.

‌Brown v. Board of Education | Case, 1954, Definition, Decision, Facts, & Impact | Britannica 2023, Encyclopædia Britannica, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://www.britannica.com/event/Brown-v-Board-of-Education-of-Topeka>.

I Have a Dream speech: August 28 1963

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:37:45 UTC

The “I Have a Dream speech” delivered by Martin Luther King on August 28, 1963, is one of the iconic speeches in history and is a powerful symbol of the civil rights movement. In his speech, he passionately spoke of his vision for a more equal society, where men and women are not judged by the color of their skin but by the quality of their character (Dlugan, 2009). He yearned for a future where racial discrimination would not exist and everyone would be equal to one another. He hoped that one day, his nation would rise above the shackles of racial segregation and discrimination and that freedom and equality would be accessible to everyone. Dr. King's belief in the transforming power of love, understanding, and equality was captured in this speech and would forever continue to inspire generations to come with its powerful yet moving message.

‌Dlugan, A 2009, Speech Analysis: I Have a Dream - Martin Luther King Jr., Six Minutes | A Public Speaking and Presentations blog, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-analysis-dream-martin-luther-king/>.

Montgomery Bus Boycott: December 1955-56

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:40:41 UTC

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a protest advocating for African-American rights and against the major racial segregation in the city’s public transport industry. The boycott started from the controversial arrest of Rosa Parks, who was an african american woman on the first of December, 1955. After a long day at work, Rosa Parks refused to give up0 her seat to a white passenger and was subsequently arrested and issued a fine, which she did not pay. Following her arrest, the MIA (Montgomery Improvement Association was formed (Stanford University, 2017). The MIA called for a boycott of the city’s bus system, which was met with a hoard of criticism and threats as well as acts of violence against the african american community. However, despite the risks faced, the MIA boycotts continued and were rewarded for their efforts as a year later, the supreme court ruled the desegregation of public transport in Montgomery.

Montgomery Bus Boycott 2017, The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/montgomery-bus-boycott>.

Emmett Till: August 18, 1955

hangiahoang596 — 2023-06-23 00:43:25 UTC

Emmett Till was a 14-year-old african american boy from Chicago who was visiting his relative in Mississippi. While going down to the store with his cousins, he allegedly whistled at a white woman by the name of Carolyn Bryant. Because of this, he was tragically murdered in a horrible manner by two white men who abducted him, beat him, and tortured him. Till's disfigured body was one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in the case, but a white-only jury found Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam not guilty. Their acquittal brought attention to the racism and injustice in the legal system (LC, 2017). The bravery of Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who insisted on an open casket funeral for her son, revealing his body to the public and media, is what brought attention to the case. Newspapers and publications published horrifying photographs, which raised public awareness of the atrocities of racial violence and the urgent need for change. The Emmett Till case sparked anger and movement, acting as a focal point for the civil rights movement.

‌The Murder of Emmett Till | Articles and Essays | Civil Rights History Project | Digital Collections | Library of Congress 2015, The Library of Congress, viewed 22 June 2023, <https://www.loc.gov/collections/civil-rights-history-project/articles-and-essays/murder-of-emmett-till/>.