Know your amendments
What amendment abolished slavery?
13th amendment
what year was slavery abolished?
1865
This Muslim minister and human rights activist was known for his slogan “By any means necessary.”
Malcom X
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Known as the "King of Pop," this Black artist broke racial barriers on MTV and is famous for hits like Thriller.
Michael Jackson
what amendment gave people of color citizenship?
14th amendment
In this year, the U.S. Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education
1954
She was a poet and author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and recited a poem at President Clinton’s inauguration.
Maya Angelou
HBCU
Historically Black College or University
This Harlem Renaissance poet wrote The Negro Speaks of Rivers and is known as the “Poet Laureate of the Negro Race.”
Langston Hughes
This amendment, used in many civil rights cases, protects freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the right to petition the government.
1st amendment
This civil rights icon delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in this year.
1963
This iconic boxer and activist refused to fight in the Vietnam War, saying, "I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.
BPP stands for a powerful political group founded in 1966 that aimed to challenge police brutality and empower Black communities.
Black Panther Party
This dance style, which originated in the African American community in the 1970s, is known for its breakdancing moves.
Hip Hop / Breakdancing
Often cited in criminal justice reform, this amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment
8th amendment
This year marks the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee
1968
This U.S. congresswoman from New York became the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968
Shirley Chisholm
NBFO advocates for the rights and advancement of Black women and girls, founded in 1974.
National Black Feminist Organization
This iconic jazz musician was known for his trumpet playing and hits like What a Wonderful World.
Louis Armstrong
This amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections, removing a barrier that disproportionately affected Black voters.
24th amendment
This year marked the founding of the Black Lives Matter movement after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
2013
This founder of the NAACP’s legal defense fund argued and won Brown v. Board of Education before becoming the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Thurgood Marshall
NUL supports the economic and social advancement of African Americans in urban areas.
National Urban League
This groundbreaking film director, known for Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, is a leading voice in Black cinema.
Spike Lee