Category Archives: African-American Civil Rights

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)

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


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) →

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during March on Washington 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


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) →

James Meredith becomes first Black student to graduate from University of Mississippi 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 18 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


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) →

Civil rights leader Medgar Evers assassinated while standing in his driveway in Jackson, Mississippi 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


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) →

President John F. Kennedy proposes civil rights legislation in historic TV address 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963)

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


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) →

Governor George Wallace stages ‘Stand in the Schoolhouse Door’ to block racial integration of University of Alabama 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963)

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


Video: 'A Confrontation for Integration at the University of Alabama'

(Tuesday, June 11, 1963, 10:48 a.m. CST; during the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, part of the Civil Rights movement) — Governor George C. Wallace stood in the door at Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama today in an attempt to block James Hood and Vivian Malone from enrolling as the first African American students at the University. Continue reading Governor George Wallace stages ‘Stand in the Schoolhouse Door’ to block racial integration of University of Alabama 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963) →

Birmingham officials unleash police dogs, fire hoses on African-American children marching against racial segregation 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 3 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Alabama City Remembered as Climactic Battle of Civil Rights Movement'

(Friday, May 3, 1963, demonstrations were held between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. CST; during the Children’s Crusade, part of the Birmingham campaign
in the Civil Rights Movement) –On the second day of the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama, members of the police and fire departments unleashed police dogs and fire hoses this afternoon on African-American school children marching to protest racial segregation. Continue reading Birmingham officials unleash police dogs, fire hoses on African-American children marching against racial segregation 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 3 1963) →

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. writes ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ while imprisoned in Alabama for protesting segregation 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'The March That Led to MLK's Arrest and Famous Letter'

(Tuesday, April 16, 1963; during the Birmingham Campaign, part of the Civil Rights Movement) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” today in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Continue reading Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. writes ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ while imprisoned in Alabama for protesting segregation 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1963) →

George Wallace sworn-in as governor of Alabama, vowing to preserve ‘segregation forever!’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'George Wallace "Segregation Forever" Speech'

(Monday, January 14, 1963, shortly after 1:00 p.m. CST; during the Civil rights movement) — George Wallace was sworn as governor of Alabama today in Montgomery standing on the gold star marking the spot where, nearly 102 years earlier, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as provisional president of the Confederate States of America, promising his followers, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” Continue reading George Wallace sworn-in as governor of Alabama, vowing to preserve ‘segregation forever!’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1963) →

James Meredith enrolls as first black student following 15-hour riot at ‘Ole Miss’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 1 1962)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Oct. 1, 1962 - James Meredith Enrolls at the University of Mississippi'

(Monday, October 1, 1962, 8:15-9:10 a.m. EDT; just after the Ole Miss riot of 1962, part of the American Civil Rights Movement) — Escorted by U.S. Marshals, James Meredith, the first Black student to enroll at the all-white University of Mississippi, registered for classes this morning as federal troops, and federalized units of the Mississippi National Guard quelled a 15-hour riot. Continue reading James Meredith enrolls as first black student following 15-hour riot at ‘Ole Miss’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 1 1962) →