African American History
Events
The following are short descriptions of major events which have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These encyclopedia entries serve as a starting point for much more inclusive descriptions and discussions that appear in other sources. For additional information please consult the print or website sources cited in the entry.
Alexandria Library Sit-In (1939)
The Alexandria Library sit-in was one of the first acts of civil disobedience of its type in United States history...
The Charleston Hospital Strike (1969)
The Charleston Hospital Strike occurred between March 19, 1969, and June 27, 1969, in Charleston, South Carolina. The leading causes...
Memphis Sanitation Strike (1968)
The Memphis Sanitation Strike occurred between February 12 and April 16, 1968. The sanitation strike was called in response to...
Kelley V. Board of Education (1955-1957)
Kelley V. Board of Education was a lawsuit filed in 1955 by several Black families to desegregate Nashville public schools....
The Greenville Library Desegregation Crisis/ The Greenville Eight (1960)
The Greenville (South Carolina) Library Desegregation Crisis involved eight African American students who protested the segregated library system in Greenville,...
The North Little Rock High School Desegregation Crisis (1957)
The North Little Rock High School Desegregation Crisis created the North Little Rock Six, a group of six African American...
Jena Six (2006)
The case of the Jena Six exposed racial injustice and inequality following an incident involving six male African American teenagers....
Lynching of Laura and L.D. Nelson (1911)
Laura and L.D. Nelson were a mother and son who were dragged from a jail and lynched in Oklahoma, on...
Little River County Race War (1899)
The Little River County Race War began in March 1899 in southwestern Arkansas and quickly spilled over into neighboring northeastern...
