Civil Rights Movement, Outline Example

May 1954, the Supreme Court in the US rules against unconstitutionality of segregation in public schools

August 1955, an action of white racists in mutilation and murder of Emmett Till, a Black boy aged 14 years in Mississippi

December 1955, arrest of Rosa Parks aged 42 after comfortably taking a seat in bus reserved for the white.

September 1957, some black students in Little Rock, Arkansas attempt to register in Central High School.

1960, Eisenhower develops a lukewarm attitude for civil rights.

February 1960, organized sit-ins and non-violent protests from Greensboro in North Carolina students as a result of services denial in segregated banquet

1962, James Meredith assisted by troops on orders of President Kennedy to join University of Mississippi. Meredith is successful in joining the University after one year of suffering from intimidation and racism.

August 1963, political science degree graduation of James Meredith

May 1961, segregated buses made illegal by the government although inter-state facilities of the buses remained segregated. CORE, Congress of Racial Equality leads a Freedom Rides protest.

May 1963, segregation policies in Birmingham, Alabama city face major protests prompting the use of fire hoses along with dogs by police to counter the peaceful protests and culminating to an arrest of 3, 000 people.

June 1963, civil rights advocated by President Kennedy through the national television asserting that the solution to the problem was not based on legislation in isolation.

August 1963, 250,000 participate in ‘March on Washington to Jobs along with Freedom’.

November 1963, assassination of President Kennedy leading to the appointment of a successor, Lyndon Johnson who promoted Civil Rights bill

July 1964, Civil Rights bill passed making segregation to be illegal with respect to public facilities and ending discrimination based on the race, country of origin, religion and color. This was a positive step to Civil Rights Movement