Black History Through the Decades! The 1960's

Heyo everyone! Welcome to the second day of our Black History Through The Decades Event! We are so excited to have you join us. We will be continuing this event by talking about important events in U.S. Black History during the 1960s!

Let’s begin with…

February 1, 1960

Woolworth’s Lunch Counter: Despite the progress in the 1950s, African Americans still experienced racism in their daily lives. After politely asking for service and having their request refused, these four African American college students didn't leave the lunch counter at Woolworth’s until they were served. This led to hundreds of hundreds of students, civil rights organizations, churches, and members of the community joining in a six-month-long protest which ultimately led to the desegregation of the Woolworth lunch counter on July 25, 1960. Did you know that this inspired activist Stokely Carmichael to create the phrase “Black power”?

May 4, 1961

Freedom Riders: 13 “Freedom Riders” seven Black and six white activists went on a bus tour throughout the Southern region of America to protest segregated bus terminals. Although they faced violence from both police officers and white protesters, even a mob throwing a bomb on the bus, the Freedom Rides also drew international attention. This is because photos of the bus engulfed in flames were widely circulated, and the group could not find a bus driver to take them further. But, the attention got Robert F. Kennedy, the U.S Attorney General, who found them a driver and police escorts to help Freedom Riders resume their journey. When another white mob attacked them as they reached Montgomery, Kennedy and even Martin Luther King Jr. sent federal marshals to protect them. There was even a time where the group was arrested for trespassing in a “whites-only” facility and sentenced to 30 days in jail. Attorneys for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People brought this situation to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reversed the convictions. Eventually, this led to the growth of hundreds of new Freedom Riders, more rides, and even the Interstate Commerce Commission issuing regulations prohibiting segregation in interstate transit terminals, under pressure from the Kennedy Administration.

August 28, 1963

March on Washington: More than 200,000 people from our diverse range of races gathered in Washington, D. C. for this peaceful march to force civil rights legislation and establish job equality for everyone. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was the highlight of this march and became a slogan for equality as he continually stated, “I have a dream…” King’s dream came true since President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which guaranteed equal employment for all races and limited the use of voter literacy tests.

March 7, 1965

Bloody Sunday: When 600 peaceful demonstrators participated in the Selma to Montgomery March to protest the killing of Black civil rights activist, Jimmie Lee Jackson, by a white police officer and to encourage legislation to enforce the 15th amendment (voting rights for all skin colors), it soon became bloody. They were soon blocked by Alabama state and local police sent by Alabama governor George C. Wallace. After continuing to move forward despite the obstacles, the protesters were beaten and tear-gassed by police which put many in the hospital. “Bloody Sunday” was televised, angering many activists, yet King still pushed for nonviolent protests and eventually gained federal protection for another march.

February 21, 1965

Malcolm X’s assassination: The former Nation of Islam leader and Organization of Afro-American Unity founder was assassinated by a Black Muslim at an Organization of Afro-American Unity rally. He is remembered for promoting the value of freedom by showing the efforts that we will go through to earn our freedom.

April 4, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr’s Assassination: Civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray on his hotel room’s balcony. He is remembered for showing the power of peaceful methods to bring healing, even to the enemy.

April 11, 1968

Fair Housing Act: Law that prevented housing discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, and religion was enacted a week after King’s assassination.

The civil rights movement in the 1960s was an empowering yet damaging time for African Americans. Yet these efforts of civil rights activists and protesters of all races brought about legislation to end segregation, Black voter suppression, and discriminatory employment and housing practices.

Do you know of any important events in black history from the 1960s? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

Thank you so much for reading and participating in today’s event post! To see more posts in this event, please click here, to join our taglist please click here, and to check out the Self-Harm Recovery community, please click here!

Citation: “A Commemmoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” MLK 50, 16 Nov. 2018, mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org/dr-kings-legacy#:~:text=influence change nationwide.-,Dr.,remains a preeminent challenge today.

History.com Editors. “Black History Milestones: Timeline.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-milestones.

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