Category Archives: African-American Civil Rights

LBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1968 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The President: April 1968. MP895.' (Apr. 11, 1968, at 22:31)

(Thursday, April 11, 1968, 5:00 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — One week after the assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson today signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Continue reading LBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1968 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1968) →

Funeral services for MLK begin in Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 9 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Dr. King's Funeral Service'

(Tuesday, April 9, 1968, 10:30 a.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Funeral services were held today in Atlanta for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., beginning with a private service for family and friends at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King and his father had both served as senior pastors, five days after the civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Funeral services for MLK begin in Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 9 1968) →

King’s widow leads march of 42,000 in Memphis 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 8 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'April 8, 1968: Memphis March Honors MLK'

(Monday, April 8, 1968; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — An estimated 42,000 people, led by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, silently marched through Memphis today in honor of her late husband, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Continue reading King’s widow leads march of 42,000 in Memphis 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 8 1968) →

King’s widow, children view his body in Atlanta 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 7 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Apr. 7, 1968, at 41:34)

(Sunday, April 7, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Coretta Scott King and her four children viewed the body of her husband today as he lay in state at Sisters Chapel on the campus of Spelman College in Atlanta.
Continue reading King’s widow, children view his body in Atlanta 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 7 1968) →

Body of MLK Jr. flown to Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S CASKET ARRIVES AT MEMPHIS AIRPORT APRIL 5, 1968 85614'

(Friday, April 5, 1968, 11:30 a.m. CST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — One day after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., the casket containing his body was loaded aboard an American Airlines Convair chartered by Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy today at the Memphis Airport for a flight to Atlanta. Continue reading Body of MLK Jr. flown to Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1968) →

Robert Kennedy urges ‘compassion’ after King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Greatest Speech Ever - Robert F Kennedy Announcing The Death Of Martin Luther King'

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 9:30 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, moved almost to tears by the death of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., told a street corner rally of African-Americans tonight in Indianapolis, Indiana, that they must strive for “love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another.” Continue reading Robert Kennedy urges ‘compassion’ after King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

President Johnson deplores ‘brutal’ murder of King 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'April 4, 1968: President Johnson addresses the nation after death of Martin Luther King Jr.'

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 9:07 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — U.S. President Johnson, speaking outside the entrance to the West Lobby at the White House, deplored tonight in a brief television address to the nation the “brutal slaying” of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, asking “every citizen to reject the blind violence that has struck Dr. King, who lived by non-violence.” Continue reading President Johnson deplores ‘brutal’ murder of King 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

RFK makes first statement on King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Homefront USA [10/11]' (Apr. 4, 1968, at 21:02)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, at about 8:40 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, having arrived at Weir Cook Municipal Airport tonight in Indianapolis, Indiana, for a scheduled campaign stop, made his first public statement on the assassination of civil rights leader The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. earlier this evening in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading RFK makes first statement on King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced dead 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: '"KENNEDYS DON'T CRY" (1975)' (Apr. 4, 1968, at 1:18:30)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 7:05 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, was pronounced dead tonight, sixty-four minutes after he was shot as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced dead 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'MLK: The Assassination Tapes - The Aftermath of the Assassination' (click here to watch the full episode with shooting at 19:05)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 6:01 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, was fatally shot tonight as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →