Category Archives: African-American Civil Rights

Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 28, 1947, at 37:56)

(Saturday, June 28, 1947) — President Harry S. Truman wrote his sister a letter today, mentioning his upcoming speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: “I’ve got to make a speech tomorrow to the Society for the Advancement of Colored People and I wish I didn’t have to make it… Mamma won’t like what I say.” Continue reading Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947) →

Ali convicted for refusing draft, gets five years in prison 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 20 1967)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'NBC News - Muhammad Ali on not going to war'

(Tuesday, June 20, 1967; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Muhammad Ali, the deposed heavyweight boxing champion, was convicted by a jury tonight in Houston of violating the U.S. Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. Continue reading Ali convicted for refusing draft, gets five years in prison 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 20 1967) →

Thurgood Marshall nominated as first African-American justice on U.S. Supreme Court 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1967)

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


Video: '"Thurgood Marshall Nominated to Supreme Court" (Washington DC, 6/13/1967)'

(Tuesday, June 13, 1967, noon EDT) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson today nominated Solicitor-General Thurgood Marshall to become the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Continue reading Thurgood Marshall nominated as first African-American justice on U.S. Supreme Court 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1967) →

Supreme Court strikes down state laws prohibiting interracial marriages 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1967)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Report on Loving Case 1967'

(Monday, June 12, 1967) — The Supreme Court, in Loving v. Virginia, ruled unanimously today that states cannot outlaw interracial marriages. Continue reading Supreme Court strikes down state laws prohibiting interracial marriages 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1967) →

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers first national speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1957)

1950s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Martin Luther King Jr. 'Give Us the Ballot' May 17, 1957'

(Friday, May 17, 1957, afternoon EDT) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., 28, delivered his first national speech, titled “Give Us the Ballot,” advocating voting rights for African-Americans, during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom gathering at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. delivers first national speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1957) →

Jackie Robinson breaks baseball’s color line, debuts with Dodgers this hour 70 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson makes His MLB Debut'

(Tuesday, April 15, 1947, 2:00 p.m. EST) — Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, 28, became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era today when he made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, more than 14,000 of whom were black. Continue reading Jackie Robinson breaks baseball’s color line, debuts with Dodgers this hour 70 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1947) →

King denounces Vietnam War at Riverside Church 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1967)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Apr. 4, 1967, at 5:17)

(Tuesday, April 4, 1967, evening EST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968) and during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. denounced the war in Vietnam tonight, delivering “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” one of his most dramatic and controversial speeches, before 3,000 people at Riverside Church in New York City. Continue reading King denounces Vietnam War at Riverside Church 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1967) →

George Wallace’s wife Lurleen replaces husband as Alabama governor 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1967)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Lurleen Wallace 1966 Campaign for Governor and Inaugural'

(Monday, January 16, 1967) — Lurleen Wallace became Alabama’s first woman governor today, replacing her term-limited husband, George Wallace, and immediately pledged that she would carry on his fight against racial integration and “federal bureaucracy” while he sought the presidency. Continue reading George Wallace’s wife Lurleen replaces husband as Alabama governor 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1967) →

U.S. Supreme Court rules segregated public transportation unconstitutional 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1956)

1950s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Browder v Gayle: The Most Important Civil Rights Case You Never Heard Of'

(Tuesday, November 13, 1956; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — In Browder v. Gayle, the U.S. Supreme Court today struck down state and municipal laws requiring segregation of races on public city and state buses in Montgomery, Alabama, leading to the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott on Dec. 20, 1956, after 381 days. Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court rules segregated public transportation unconstitutional 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1956) →

Edward Brooke becomes first African-American elected to U.S. Senate by popular vote 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1966)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: '‘The biggest news in the country!’ / Lawrence O’Donnell, Edward Brooke'

(Tuesday, November 8, 1966, during the United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1966) — Edward W. Brooke today became the first black candidate to be elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote by defeating former Governor Endicott Peabody with 1,213,473 votes to 744,761. Continue reading Edward Brooke becomes first African-American elected to U.S. Senate by popular vote 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1966) →