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) →

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) →

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) →