1960s
1960–1969The Civil Rights movement triumphs in law as COINTELPRO targets Black leaders.
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Key events
- October 2, 1967Thurgood Marshall joins the Supreme Court
Marshall becomes the first Black Supreme Court justice.
- September 7, 1960Wilma Rudolph wins three Olympic golds
Rudolph becomes the fastest woman in the world in Rome.
- February 25, 1964Cassius Clay wins the heavyweight title
The future Muhammad Ali stuns the world and soon becomes a global icon.
- April 13, 1964Sidney Poitier wins Best Actor
Poitier becomes the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.
- November 7, 1967Carl Stokes, first Black mayor of a major city
Stokes is elected mayor of Cleveland.
- November 5, 1968Shirley Chisholm elected to Congress
Chisholm becomes the first Black woman elected to the US House.
- 1969Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
Angelou's memoir becomes a defining work of American letters.
- April 18, 1966Bill Russell, first Black NBA head coach
Russell breaks the coaching color line in major American sports.
- December 26, 1966Kwanzaa is created
Maulana Karenga establishes a celebration of African American heritage.