Key Events in Black History Interactive Infographic

Key Events

1838 1963

In Black history

Frederick Douglass’s Escape from Slavery

The March on Washington

W.E.B. Du Bois Co-founding the NAACP

1963

1909

1838

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Harriest Tubman's first rescue

Rosa parks' arrest

1955

1849

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W.E.B. Du Bois Co-founding the NAACP

In 1909, W.E.B. Du Bois helped establish the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to combat racial discrimination and promote African American equality. A leading scholar and activist, Du Bois played a important role in shaping the organization. He served as the editor of The Crisis, the NAACP’s journal, using it to expose racial injustices. His contributions were vital in making the NAACP a key player in the civil rights movement.

Harriet Tubman's First Rescue

Harriet Tubman’s first rescue mission took place in 1850, when she returned to Maryland after escaping slavery to help her family. She freed her sister, Rachel, and her two children, guiding them safely to Philadelphia despite the dangers of slave catchers. This mission marked the beginning of her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, where she led hundreds to freedom.

Frederick Douglass’s Escape from Slavery

Frederick Douglass escaped slavery at the age of 20. He boarded a train from Baltimore to Philadelphia, using borrowed "free papers" to pass as a free man. After reaching New York City, he was finally free. Douglass then adopted his new name and later became a leading abolitionist, advocating for the end of slavery through speeches and his writings.

Rosa Parks' Arrest

Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to a 381-day boycott of the city’s buses and ultimately a Supreme Court decision declaring segregation on public buses unconstitutional.

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place on August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C. It was a massive demonstration advocating for civil rights, economic equality, and an end to racial segregation. Over 250,000 people gathered, and it was here that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. The march played a key role in building momentum for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.