1. Executive Order 8802 (1941): President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued this order, prohibiting discrimination in the defense industry based on race, creed, color, or national origin. It marked the first federal order addressing employment discrimination.
2. Double V Campaign: During World War II, the African-American community launched the Double V campaign, symbolizing victory against fascism abroad and against racial discrimination at home.
3. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): The landmark Supreme Court ruling declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).
4. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.
5. Little Rock Nine (1957): Nine African-American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, facing intense resistance from white mobs and the Arkansas National Guard. President Eisenhower ultimately sent federal troops to enforce the students' right to attend.
6. March on Washington (1963): Over 200,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., for a nonviolent protest calling for civil rights and racial justice. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during this march.
7. Civil Rights Act of 1964: This landmark legislation prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, public accommodations, and government programs.
8. Voting Rights Act of 1965: The act enforced constitutional amendments guaranteeing the right to vote for all citizens, regardless of race or color, and outlawed discriminatory voting practices like poll taxes and literacy tests.
9. Fair Housing Act of 1968: This law prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
These milestones marked significant progress in breaking down racial barriers and advancing civil rights in the United States. However, the fight for equality and justice continues to this day, as persistent racial disparities and biases remain challenges that society must address.