Video: '24th Amendment Explained'
(Thursday, January 23, 1964, 2:25 p.m. CST) — The Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified today as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it. Continue reading Twenty-fourth Amendment banning the poll tax in federal elections ratified 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 23 1964)
(Saturday, November 9, 1963) — “We Shall Overcome” by Joan Baez peaked at #90 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘We Shall Overcome’ by Joan Baez peaks at #90 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 9 1963)
Video: 'Miss America 1984 - Crowning Moment'
(Saturday, September 17, 1983, approximately 11:55 p.m. EDT) — Vanessa Williams, 20, of New York became the first African American to be named Miss America in the 62-year history of the pageant when she was crowned Miss America 1984 tonight in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Continue reading Vanessa Williams becomes first African American crowned Miss America 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1983)
Video: '16th St. Baptist Church Bombing - 1963 | Today In History | 15 Sept 17'
(Sunday, September 15, 1963, 10:22 a.m. CST; during the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, part of the civil rights movement and the Birmingham campaign) — Four girls were killed this morning when a bomb set by a white supremacist terrorist group exploded in the basement of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where 80 African-American children were attending Sunday school. Continue reading Four African-American girls killed in 16th Street Baptist Church bombing 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1963)
Video: 'Hidden History: Integration of Alabama Schools'
(Monday, September 9, 1963, morning, local time; during the civil rights movement) — Sonnie Hereford IV, 6, became the first African-American student to integrate public schools in Alabama this morning following a lengthy court battle. Continue reading Sonnie Hereford IV becomes first African-American child to integrate an Alabama public school 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1963)
Video: 'August 28, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy meets with the leaders of the March On Washington'
(Wednesday, August 28, 1963, 5:00-6:12 p.m. EDT; during the civil rights movement) — Following the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, highlighted by the “I Have A Dream” speech delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr., 10 leaders of the event walked over to the White House today for a 72-minute meeting with President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Oval Office. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy meets with civil rights leaders following March on Washington 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1963)
Video: 'Martin Luther King | I Have A Dream Speech | August 28, 1963, Full Speech'
(Wednesday, August 28, 1963, approximately 3:00 p.m. EDT; during the civil rights movement) — American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech today from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. delivers ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during March on Washington 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1963)
Video: 'James Meredith Graduates from the University of Mississippi (August 18, 1963)'
(Sunday, August 18, 1963; during the civil rights movement) — James Meredith, 30, today became the first African-American to graduate from the University of Mississippi in its 115 years of existence. Continue reading James Meredith becomes first Black student to graduate from University of Mississippi 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 18 1963)
Video: 'Medgar Evers - Part 1, Civil Rights Heroes, Martin Kent Documentary' (June 12, 1963, at 4:28)
(Wednesday, June 12, 1963, at approximately 12:40 a.m. CST; during the Civil rights movement) — Medgar Evers, a 37-year-old African-American civil rights activist, was shot and killed today while standing in his driveway in Jackson, Mississippi, by Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the White Citizens’ Council in Jackson and a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Continue reading Civil rights leader Medgar Evers assassinated while standing in his driveway in Jackson, Mississippi 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1963)
Video: 'John F. Kennedy's 1963 Televised Address to the Nation on Civil Rights'
(Tuesday, June 11, 1963, 8:00 p.m. EDT; during the Report to the American People on Civil Rights, part of the civil rights movement) — U.S. President Kennedy delivered a historic civil rights address tonight on radio and television in which he proposed legislation that would later become the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and asked for “the kind of equality of treatment that we would want for ourselves.” Continue reading President John F. Kennedy proposes civil rights legislation in historic TV address 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963)
