Video: 'Marian Anderson canta Un ballo in Maschera'
(Friday, January 7, 1955, evening EST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — Singer Marian Anderson made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York tonight in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, becoming the first black person to perform there as a member. Continue reading Marian Anderson becomes first African-American to perform with Metropolitan Opera in New York 70 years ago tonight (Jan 7 1955)
Video: 'Mississippi Burning Conviction News Coverage'
(Thursday, January 6, 2005) — The most infamous unresolved case from America’s civil rights struggle four decades ago – the 1964 abduction and killing of three voter-registration volunteers by nightriders on a lonely rural road in Mississippi – was revived tonight with the arrest of a longtime leader of the Ku Klux Klan, the authorities announced. Continue reading First murder charge in 1964 civil rights killings of three activists 20 years ago today (Jan 6 2005)
Video: 'Court Upholds Law Prohibiting Discrimination in Hotels'
(Monday, December 14, 1964, during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — The U.S. Supreme Court, in Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, ruled unanimously today that Congress was within its authority to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against racial discrimination by private businesses; in this case, a motel that refused to cater to blacks. Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court affirms Congress’s power to enforce Civil Rights Act against private business discrimination 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1964)
Video: 'October 14, 1964: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. awarded Noble Peace Prize | Today in History'
(Wednesday, October 14, 1964) — The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a towering figure in the civil rights movement, was named today as the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. awarded Nobel Peace Prize for non-violent civil rights leadership 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 14 1964)
(Saturday, July 18, 1964) — “Keep On Pushing” by The Impressions peaked today at #10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Keep On Pushing’ by The Impressions peaks at #10 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 18 1964)
Video: 'From the archives: Lyndon B. Johnson signs Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law'
(Thursday, July 2, 1964, 6:45 p.m. EDT; during the Civil rights movement) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the strongest civil rights law (known as the Civil Rights Act of 1964) in almost a century tonight, just three hours after Congress approved it amid cheers, and called on Americans to eliminate the last vestiges of injustice in America. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs landmark civil rights bill, urges nation to eliminate injustice 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1964)
Video: 'The True Story Of Mississippi Burning | FULL EPISODE | The FBI Files'
(Sunday, June 21, 1964, victims released from jail and drove off in the direction of Meridian in a blue station wagon at approximately 10:30 p.m. CDT; during the Civil rights movement) — Three civil rights activists — Michael Schwerner, 24, and Andrew Goodman, 20, both Jewish New Yorkers, and James Chaney, 21, a Black local resident — were murdered tonight near Philadelphia, Mississippi, after being released from the Neshoba County jail. Continue reading Three civil rights workers murdered near Philadelphia, Mississippi 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 21 1964)
Video: 'Brown v. Board of Education in PBS' The Supreme Court'
(Monday, May 17, 1954, 12:52 p.m. EDT; marking the end of Jim Crow era (1896–1954) and beginning of civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka unanimously ruled this afternoon that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality. Continue reading Racial segregation in public schools unanimously outlawed by U.S. Supreme Court 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1954)
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)