Civil rights historical gallery

Civil rights images and figures throughout history.

5 Seconds

00:00

Linda Brown Smith, 9, was a third-grader when her father started a class-action suit in 1951, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., which led to the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 landmark decision against school segregation.

/ AP

Hecklers follow Elizabeth Eckford as she walks away from Little Rock's Central High School on Sept. 4, 1957. Eckford was turned away by Arkansas National Guardsmen, who were instructed by Gov. Orval Faubus not to allow nine black students to enter the school, despite federal court orders.

Will Counts / AP

Governor Orval E. Faubus of Arkansas holds a copy of the Manchester N.H. Union-Leader newspaper in 1957.

/ Maurice Johnson

In an undated photo, Rosa Parks rides on the Montgomery Area Transit System bus. Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus on Dec. 1, 1955, and ignited the boycott that led to a federal court ruling against segregation in public transportation.

/ AP

Rosa Parks is fingerprinted by Deputy Sheriff D.H. Lackey in Montgomery, Ala., in this Feb. 22, 1956, photo. Parks was among about 100 people charged with violating segregation laws.

Gene Herrick / AP

A Montgomery, Ala., Sheriff's Department photograph of Rosa Parks taken Feb. 22, 1956. Parks was among those arrested during the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-56.

/ AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is welcomed with a kiss by his wife, Coretta, after leaving court in Montgomery, Ala., in this March 22, 1956, photo.

Gene Herrick / AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., center, under arrest by Atlanta Police Capt. R. E. Little, left rear, passes through a picket line in front of a downtown department store in 1960. King was among the 48 African Americans arrested following demonstrations at several department and variety stores protesting lunch counter segregation.

Freedom Ride Greyhound bus passengers are carried to an ambulance in Anniston, Ala., on May 14, 1961.

Joseph "Little Joe" Postiglione / Joe Postiglione for the Anniston Star

A new busload of "freedom riders," including four white college professors and three African American students, arrived in Montgomery, Ala., under the protection of police and National Guard members in this May 24, 1961, photo.

Perry Aycock / AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., front left, walks in the funeral procession for slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers in June 1963 in Jackson, Miss.

The Learning Channel / AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., third from left, marches in a line of men with arms linked during the March on Washington for civil rights on Aug. 28, 1963.

/ AP

More than 250,000 people gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial seen in the aerial view on Aug. 28, 1963. The gathering, the closing of the March on Washington, concluded with the "I Have a Dream" speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

/ AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial for his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963.

/ AP

President Abraham Lincoln's statue at the Lincoln Memorial overlooks the crowd at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.

James K. W. Atherton / UPI

President Lyndon B. Johnson reaches to shake hands with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after presenting the civil rights leader with one of the 72 pens used to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in Washington, D.C., on July 2, 1964.

/ AP

Alabama state troopers swing nightsticks to break up a civil rights voting march in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 1965. John Lewis, front right, of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee is put on the ground by a trooper.

/ AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., center, leads thousands of civil rights demonstrators out on the last leg of their Selma to Montgomery 50-mile hike.

Signing of the Voting Rights Act in the Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C., on Aug. 6, 1965.

Yoichi R. Okamoto / LBJ Library

Fannie Lou Hamer of Ruleville, Miss., speaks to Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party sympathizers outside the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 17, 1965, after the House of Representatives rejected a challenge to the 1964 election of five Mississippi representatives.

WJS / AP

In her first splash into politics, Ella J. Baker, a dapper, spirited woman who had been fighting uphill battles most of her life, directed the Washington Office of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

Malcolm X, the Black Muslim leader, is shown in New York in this March 5, 1964, photo.

Eddie Adams / AP

Black Panther leader Huey Newton is shown holding a shotgun in this undated photo.

Judge Thurgood Marshall during hearings of his nomination to be a Supreme Court justice.

Wally McNamee / The Washington Post

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Ralph Abernathy, right, lead a march on behalf of striking Memphis sanitation workers on March 28, 1968.

Sam Melhorn / AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gives a speech on the evening before the Last March, Mason Temple, on March 27,1 968.

Earnest C. Withers / AP

Aides stand on a balcony over the mortally wounded Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and signal to police below the direction from which the assassin's bullet came.

Joseph Louw / Time Inc.

An estimated 150,000 men, women and children gather in Atlanta on April 9, 1968, to pay final homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., slain at age 39.

/ Reuters

Metro dedicated an antique 1957 bus in honor of Rosa Parks. This is the same bus that was used as part of her memorial service in D.C.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

From the east steps of the Capitol, the D.C. National Guard carries the body of Rosa Parks to lie in state in the Capitol's rotunda while the public pays its last respects.

Michel du Cille / The Washington Post

The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during the funeral service for her mother, Coretta Scott King, at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Feb. 7, 2006 in Lithonia, Ga. Coretta Scott King, the wife of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., died at age 78.

Pool / Getty Images

Featured Photo Galleries

In this image released by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Washington USA 2012, Christina Clarke; Miss West Virginia USA 2012, Andrea Rogers; and Miss Wisconsin USA 2012, Emily Guerin compete in their swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 2012 Miss USA Presentation Show on May 30, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2012 MISS USA Pageant will air LIVE on NBC June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Theatre for Performing Arts in Las Vegas. = RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe Organization / DARREN DECKER' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS =DARREN DECKER/AFP/GettyImages

Miss Universe, Beijing Aquarium, National Spelling Bee and more in the day in photos

Miss Universe, Beijing Aquarium, National Spelling Bee and more.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: Jon Stewart attends the Sesame Street Workshop 10th Annual Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 30, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jon Stewart, Justin Bieber, Bruce Springsteen, Lil Wayne, Michelle Williams and other celebrities.

The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is seen in a camera on the end of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm as it moves away from the station in preparation for its return to earth in this image from NASA TV May 31, 2012. REUTERS/NASA TV (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

SpaceX prepares to return home

The SpaceX Dragon capsule detached from the international space station Thursday morning.

Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. A gunman opened fire at a Seattle cafe earlier Wednesday, killing three people and critically wounding two others and later a man believed to be the same suspect shot and killed a woman and took her car near downtown, abandoning it less than two miles from where the alleged shooter shot himself as officers closed in on him, authorities said. His condition wasn't immediately known. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Gunman kills five, shoots himself in Seattle

A gunman killed five people in Seattle — four at a cafe and another in a carjacking.

LANDOVER, MD May 30, 2012 U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Fabian Johnson (23) hits a crossing pass to forward Herculez Gomez (9) for their 1st half goal against Brazil Men's National Team goalie Rafael (12) on May 30, 2012 in Landover, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Brazil too much for U.S. to handle

Herculez Gomez scores just before halftime, but Brazil runs away with a 4-1 victory.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

Editor’s choice: Reader-submitted photos

Some of the Post’s top picks of snapshots taken and submitted by readers.

HANDOUT PHOTO: Camera men film as the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew, U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, blasts off from it's launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome, May 15, 2012. (Courtesy of Shamil Zhumatov/ADAY.org)

A snapshot of life

ADAY.org aimed to capture a picture of life across the globe on one day: May, 15, 2012.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.