The Civil Rights Movement, primarily occurring between the mid-1950s and late 1960s, was a transformative period in the history of the United States. Aimed at abolishing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring their voting rights in the South, this movement birthed numerous key events that forever altered our nation’s social landscape.
READ ALSO: Most Renowned African-American Civil Rights Activists of All Time
In a chronological order, WHE presents 14 major events of the Civil Rights Movement:
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896.
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This verdict overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision which sanctioned “separate but equal” facilities for whites and blacks. Brown v. Board became the judicial foundation for the movement, signaling federal commitment against institutional racism.
The unanimous decision, delivered by Chief Justice Earl Warren, emphasized that segregated schools were inherently unequal and detrimental to black children. The ruling became a pivotal catalyst for the civil rights movement, pushing the U.S. towards greater racial integration in education and other public spheres of life.
ALSO READ: Life and Major Achievements of Thurgood Marshall
Emmett Till’s Murder (1955)
The brutal killing of a 14-year-old black boy, Emmett Till, in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman, and the subsequent acquittal of his murderers, became a flashpoint. It galvanized national and international outrage, highlighting the deep-seated racial violence in the South.
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American from Chicago, was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 after allegedly whistling at a white woman. His killers, the woman’s husband and brother, were acquitted by an all-white jury. Till’s open-casket funeral, revealing his disfigured body, galvanized the civil rights movement, making his death a pivotal moment in U.S. racial history. Image: Emmett Till, 13-years-old, on Christmas Day, 1954. Photograph taken by Mamie Till Bradley.
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) was a pivotal event in the American civil rights movement, sparked by Rosa Parks‘ arrest on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama, bus. This act of defiance led local civil rights leaders, including a young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to organize a boycott of the city’s bus system.
The African American community’s response was overwhelming. For over a year, black residents, comprising about 75% of the bus system’s ridership, avoided buses, instead walking, carpooling, or using other methods to travel. Their determination and unity brought significant economic strain to the bus company.
Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, spurred a 381-day bus boycott. The nonviolent protest was a significant economic strain on the public transit system and led to a 1956 Supreme Court decision that declared segregated buses unconstitutional. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., then a young pastor, emerged as a major leader during this boycott. Image: Rosa Parks being processed for her defiance on a Montgomery bus
Amidst growing national attention, the U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled in November 1956 that Alabama’s bus segregation was unconstitutional. The boycott ended on December 20, 1956, marking a significant victory and showcasing the potential of nonviolent resistance in the fight for civil rights.
On December 21, 1956, Rosa Parks boarded a Montgomery bus, marking the day Montgomery’s public transportation was legally integrated. Behind her was UPI reporter Nicholas C. Chriss, documenting this historic event after Parks’ initial arrest had sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and furthered the civil rights movement.
READ ALSO: 8 Notable Achievements of Rosa Parks, the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement
Little Rock Nine (1957)
Nine African American students enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, facing vehement opposition from both the state’s governor and violent white mobs. President Eisenhower intervened, ordering federal troops to escort and protect the students. This event underscored the federal government’s commitment to desegregation and the lengths to which segregationists would go to maintain the status quo.
Image: Little Rock Nine Memorial at Arkansas State Capitol
Greensboro Sit-ins (1960)
Four black college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, staged a sit-in at a whites-only lunch counter at Woolworth’s department store. This peaceful form of protest spread across the South, leading to the desegregation of various facilities.
The Greensboro Four: (left to right) David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell A. Blair, Jr., and Joseph McNeil. Photo by Jack Moebes. Jack Moebes Photo Archive.
Freedom Rides (1961)
To challenge the non-enforcement of bus desegregation rulings, mixed racial groups traveled on buses throughout the South. The riders faced extreme violence and hostility, but their actions led to the enforcement of desegregation rulings on interstate travel.
Birmingham Campaign (1963)
Organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and led by Dr. King, this campaign against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, saw nonviolent protestors, including children, attacked with high-pressure water hoses and dogs. Images of these brutalities garnered national sympathy and proved a turning point.
On March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday, Alabama Highway Patrol troopers violently assaulted civil rights protesters outside Selma, marking a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
March on Washington (1963)
Over 250,000 people gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to demand civil and economic rights for African Americans. Here, Dr. King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, emphasizing racial harmony and integration.
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held on August 28, 1963, stands as a watershed moment in American history. Mobilizing over 250,000 participants, it remains one of the largest political rallies for human rights in the U.S. Organized by civil rights, labor, and religious groups, the march aimed to shed light on the enduring challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans while advocating for civil rights legislation.
Taking place at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the event featured speeches and performances by key civil rights and musical figures. The most iconic was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, where he articulated his vision of an integrated and harmonious America.
The March played a crucial role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965). It showcased the strength and unity of the civil rights movement, advancing the struggle for racial and economic justice in America.
Leaders of the march in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln: (sitting L-R) Whitney Young, Cleveland Robinson, A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr., and Roy Wilkins; (standing L-R) Mathew Ahmann, Joachim Prinz, John Lewis, Eugene Carson Blake, Floyd McKissick, and Walter Reuther
Civil Rights Act (1964)
Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who had proposed the act, his successor Lyndon B. Johnson managed to secure its passage. This landmark legislation banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination, significantly altering the fabric of American society.
Meeting with civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. (left), Whitney Young, and James Farmer in the Oval Office in 1964
Freedom Summer (1964)
Hundreds of volunteers, both black and white, ventured into Mississippi to register black voters and set up “Freedom Schools.” They faced violence and intimidation from white supremacists, leading to increased national attention on the state’s racism.
Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965)
Organized to advocate for voting rights and oppose voter registration racism, the marches became globally notorious after “Bloody Sunday,” where peaceful demonstrators were violently attacked by Alabama state troopers. The televised brutality expedited the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march
Voting Rights Act (1965)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. It prohibited literacy tests and other discriminatory practices, and allowed federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of racial discrimination. The act significantly increased African American voter registration and participation, reshaping the political landscape of the U.S.
A direct outcome of the Selma marches, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned racial discrimination in voting, eliminating barriers like literacy tests. It allowed for federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of discriminatory voting practices. Image: United States President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Among the guests behind him is Martin Luther King Jr.
Black Power Movement and the Rise of the Black Panthers (Late 1960s)
The Black Power Movement in the late 1960s emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. Key members included Stokely Carmichael, who popularized the term “Black Power”; Malcolm X, advocating for black self-reliance; Angela Davis, known for her activism and scholarship; and Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, co-founders of the Black Panther Party. Their efforts challenged systemic racial oppression. The Black Panther Party in particularchallenged police brutality and established community social programs. Their militant stance drew both admiration and criticism.
ALSO READ: Life and Major Achievements Fred Hampton, the deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party and chair of the Illinois chapter
Key members Black Power Movement included Stokely Carmichael, who popularized the term “Black Power”; Malcolm X, advocating for black self-reliance; Angela Davis, known for her activism and scholarship; and Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, co-founders of the Black Panther Party. Their efforts challenged systemic racial oppression. Image: Renowned Civil Rights leader Malcolm X
Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1968)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps our nation’s most prominent civil rights leader, was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was at the Lorraine Motel when a bullet struck him on the balcony. His death sparked widespread riots and grief across the U.S. James Earl Ray was arrested and pleaded guilty to the murder, though later recanted, fueling conspiracy theories. King’s assassination marked the end of a pivotal era in the civil rights movement, but his legacy of nonviolent protest against racial segregation and injustice endures. His death intensified efforts to achieve the equality he dreamed of, ultimately leading to further civil rights advances in America.
Dr. King’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, marked the end of an era. Riots erupted in cities across the country, showcasing the profound grief and anger in the African American community.
ALSO READ: Notable Achievements of Martin Luther King Jr.
