Civil Rights & Equality Timeline by 2026Lydia Njitoh

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

9966766 — 2024-03-04 17:29:59 UTC

As the Civil War ended, the Southern States 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.

December 6, 1865 - 13th Amendment

9966766 — 2024-03-04 17:36:30 UTC

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in every state or area in the United States, freeing enslaved Americans. This also included people who were forced to work as servitude whether it was housework or general enslavement. However, it was most of the time violated and wasn't as effective.

July 28, 1868 - 14th Amendment

9966766 — 2024-03-04 17:56:04 UTC

The 14th Amendment allowed freed Americans to have American citizenship and amplified their rights as citizens. It stated that everyone had the right to legal protection and states couldn't make or enforce laws that harmed a citizens rights especially if it was based on their race.

February 3, 1870 - 15th Amendment

9966766 — 2024-03-04 17:58:14 UTC

The 15th Amendment granted everyone the right to vote, not including women, no matter if the were formerly enslaved and states couldn't impose on this right based on their race. People and groups still made efforts to disallow freed Americans from this right. Organizations and mobs like the KKK targeted Black Americans by enforcing violence and hate towards them.

September 5, 1955 - Emmett Till Funeral

9966766 — 2024-03-06 17:36:32 UTC

Mamie Till, Emmett's mother, received the body after he was beaten and killed. She decided to have an open casket funeral to show the world the brutality of lynching and the hatred. Tens of thousands of individuals attended of every color to view his body.

Emmett Till Antilynching Law - 2022

9966766 — 2024-03-06 17:38:21 UTC

The Emmett Till Antilynching Law was signed as recently as 2022, after decades of protests and advocacy against lynching. The law deemed and defined lynching as a hate crime under federal law, and those who did commit the hate crime with be given specific penalties.

Brown v. Board of Education - 1954

9966766 — 2024-03-15 16:19:15 UTC

Brown v. Board of Education was a court case that finally stopped the segregation of public schools. Before this, black students weren't able to go to the same schools as white students and sent to schooling that wasn't as privileged as their white counterparts. The new law, however, was never fully enforced and when black students tried to integrate, they were met with violent, white mobs.

September 4, 1957 - Little Rock 9

9966766 — 2024-03-15 16:20:25 UTC

On this day, 9 students of color attempted to integrate an all white school, Little Rock Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Schools were supposed to be integrated in the South, but the South wasn't implementing the education law. So as these students challenged the racism woven in their education, they were met with violent mobs inside and outside of the school. They were forced to leave at one point, but were then attended again with the help of the National Guard escorting them.

December 5, 1955 - Montgomery Bus Boycott

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:34:04 UTC

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a successful movement that ended with the Supreme Court deeming segregated busing was unconstitutional. This movement was led by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King who were pivotal in the success of this boycott. The boycott lasted 381 days, which was 381 days of Black Americans and anyone else who joined in, not riding the bus, taking detours or even walking for that period of time. This boycott showed the success of non violence in movements and the determination Black Americans had to make differences in their everyday lives.

February -July 1960 - Greensboro Sit Ins

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:34:18 UTC

At a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, young Black American students sat and refused to leave until given service. They were denied but their diligence soon inspired others to try the same non violent protest spreading the movement to other colleges and towns. Despite being met with violence from people who opposed and handcuffs, the movement was successful and led to a change policies that included segregation.

1961 - The Freedom Rides

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:34:30 UTC

Groups of all types of civil rights activist participated in trips on the bus through the South to protest bus segregation. They tested the Supreme Court decision on the segregation on transportation in areas like buses, facilities, and transportation terminals. They were met with police officers and violence but gained international attention to the brutality they faced.

May 2, 1963 - The Children's Crusade

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:34:44 UTC

On this day, thousands of students ditched school to march downtown Alabama from the Sixth Street Baptist Church. As they marched, they were bombarded with water hoses with immense pressure, attacks from police dogs and more violence from police. Fortunately, the brutality on them was filmed for the nation to see, showcasing how children that were peacefully protesting were treated.

August 28, 1963 - The March on Washington

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:34:55 UTC

The March on Washington was a mass protest attended by over 200,000 people. People gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. and their goal was to draw attention to problems and imbalances faced by Black Americans. At this protest, Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have A Dream" speech.

1965 - Selma Voting Rights Movement/Campaign/Marches

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:35:09 UTC

This movement or campaign was a series of steps and marches taken by multiple individuals to protest the denial of Black Americans' right to vote. Martin Luther King, John Lewis and organizations like SCLC and SNCC lead the campaign. This was not an easy movement, with many lives lost and many setbacks, but it served a grand purpose for the rights of Black Americans. This campaign led to the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:35:43 UTC

This law made discrimination based on color, sex, race, religion, and origin illegal. This act also increased desegregation in schools, improve voting rights for those denied, and end discrimination in federally funded programs.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

9966766 — 2024-03-27 16:35:59 UTC

This act help eliminate the barriers on African Americans abilities to vote. All the literacy test, environmental barriers or any tactic that was used in prevention of their vote was deemed illegal through this act. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a big achievement of the Civil Rights Movement.

February 21, 1965 - Malcolm X Assassination

9966766 — 2024-04-02 17:04:54 UTC

Malcolm X was preparing to deliver a speech in the Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1985 but he was shot and killed in front of the audience. It is presumed to be members of the Nation of Islam who carried out the act and potentially because he "exposed" them prior.

April 4, 1968 - Martin Luther King Assassination

9966766 — 2024-04-02 17:06:21 UTC

MLK was in Memphis, Tennessee supporting a protest on poverty. While on his hotel balcony at the Lorraine Motel, MLK was assassinated. His assassination sparked violence and chaos through the nation and his supporters were engulfed by grief.

June 5, 1968 - Robert F. Kennedy Assassination

9966766 — 2024-04-04 02:59:52 UTC

At the Ambassador Hotel, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. He was giving a speech after winning the California Primary and addressing his supporters. It seemed that Kennedy would've won the Presidential Election if he continued on.