African American History and Women Timeline 1960-1969

[Previous] [Next] 1960 †¢ Ruby Bridges integrated an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana †¢ Ella Baker among others organized SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) at Shaw University †¢ Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three Olympic gold medals, and was named Athlete of the Year by the United Press 1961 †¢ CORE Freedom Rides began, with the aim of desegregating public buses -- many brave women and men participated †¢ (March 6) Executive Order by John F. Kennedy promoted affirmative action to abolish racial biases in hiring on projects where federal funds were involved 1962 †¢ Meredith v. Fair case argued by Constance Baker Motley. The decision allowed James Meredith to be admitted to the University of Mississippi. 1963 †¢ (September 15) Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Weston, ages 11-14, killed in the bombing of 16th Street Church in Birmingham, Alabama †¢ Dinah Washington (Ruth Lee Jones) died (singer) 1964 †¢ (April 6) Mrs. Frankie Muse Freeman becomes the first woman on the new U.S. Commission on Civil Rights †¢ (July 2) US Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law †¢ Fannie Lou Hamer testified for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party before the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Convention 1965 †¢ Viola Liuzzo murdered by Ku Klux Klan members after participating in civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama †¢ affirmative action was required to eliminate racial bias in hiring on federally-funded projects, as defined by Executive Order 11246 †¢ Patricia Harris became the first African American woman ambassador (Luxemburg) †¢ Mary Burnett Talbert died (activist: anti-lynching, civil rights) †¢ Dorothy Dandridge died (actress, singer, dancer) †¢ Lorraine Hansberry died (playwright, wrote Raisin in the Sun) 1966 †¢ (August 14) Halle Berry born (actress) †¢ (August 30) Constance Baker Motley appointed a federal judge, the first African American woman to hold that office 1967 †¢ (June 12) in Loving v. Virginia, Supreme Court ruled that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional, voiding statutes still on the books in 16 states †¢ (October 13) 1965 Executive Order 11246, requiring affirmative action to eliminate racial bias in hiring on federally-funded projects, was amended to include gender-based discrimination †¢ Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, recorded her signature song, Respect 1968 †¢ Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the US House of Representatives †¢Ã‚  Audre Lorde  published her first book of poems,  The First Cities. 1969 †¢ (October 29) Supreme Court ordered immediate desegregation of school districts [Previous] [Next] [1492-1699] [1700-1799] [1800-1859] [1860-1869] [1870-1899] [1900-1919] [1920-1929] [1930-1939] [1940-1949] [1950-1959] [1960-1969] [1970-1979] [1980-1989] [1990-1999] [2000-]