American Studies 496/596
Faculty Exhibits
Civil Rights Movement Chronology
Miss Ella Baker, Organizer
(This is a partial list meant to stress those events featured in lectures, readings & films)
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1619 to the 20th century -- slavery, rebellion, abolition, Reconstruction, Jim Crow
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1930s to 1950 - continuing 'great migration'; urbanization and proletarianization of African Americans
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1942 - Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) formed; pioneers non-violent civil rights protest in North
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1945-54 - harassments & lynchings of WW II black vets & legal cases brought against these acts
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1950-54 - various bus, restaurant, and business boycotts pioneered in Southern cities
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1954 - Brown v. Board of Education declares segregated education unconstitutional
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1955-56 - Montgomery bus boycott; M.L. King emerges as a major leader
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1957 - Little Rock, Arkansas school desegregation battles using federal enforcement
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) founded, w/ King as leader
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1957-60 - SCLC, NAACP and others build mass based movement
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1960 - Greensboro, N.C. sit-ins set off chain of sit-ins led by students throughout the South
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1961 - Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) founded
- "Freedom rides" organized by CORE and joined by SNCC
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1962- massive cd campaign in Albany, GA., solidifies CRM movement culture
- "Freedom Singers" founded
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1963 - massive cd campaign in Birmingham, Alabama; churches & King's home bombed
- M.L. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
- assassination of Medgar Evers
- March on Washington & King's "I Have a Dream Speech"
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1964 - US Congress passes the first major Civil Rights Act
- "Freedom Summer" voter registration and education project
- Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
- Malcolm X forms Association for Afro-American Unity
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1965 - US Congress passes Voting Rights Act
- Selma, Alabama campaign and marches
- Watts Riot signals beginnings of major urban uprisings
- Malcolm X assassinated (Feb 21)
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1966 - on Meredith march SNCC begins to use the slogan "Black Power"
- SCLC and King take the movement north to Chicago and meet fierce resistance
- Black Panther Party for Self Defense founded in Oakland, California
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1967-68 - SCLC launches "Poor People's Campaign"
- major riots/rebellions in Newark, Detroit and dozens of cities
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1968 - King assassinated (April 4)
- Chicago Democratic Convention police riot; "Chicago 8" trial begins
- SNCC and Panthers briefly merge
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1969-70 - Third World student strike at San Francisco State Univ & similar ones elsewhere
-FBI & COINTELPRO step up attacks against black power organizations
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1971 - George Jackson shot in prison; Attica prison revolt