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2008

Barack Obama Elected

Barack Obama is elected President of the United States of America.

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2012

Library of Congress Agrees to Home the History Makers

the history makers home page

From the CBS 60 Minutes piece on the HistoryMakers:

“By 2012, [the HistoryMakers founder Julieanna Richardson] had discovered so much, the archive [documenting Black achievement] had grown so vast, the collection so significant, the Library of Congress agreed to become its permanent repository. Alongside the only other project of its magnitude – the WPA Slave Narratives, recorded during the Great Depression.”

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2013

Black Lives Matter Movement

Black Lives Matter movement begins with the use of #BlackLivesMatter on social media by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, after Trayvon Martin’s murderer is acquitted. The movement gained national attention during demonstrations after Michael Brown and Eric Garner are murdered.

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2020

George Floyd Murdered by Police

George Floyd is murdered by Minneapolis Police in the street, sparking a global protest movement against racism and police brutality.

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Nikole Hannah-Jones Wins Pulitzer Prize

Nikole Hannah-Jones wins award for “a sweeping, provocative and personal essay for the ground-breaking 1619 Project, which seeks to place the enslavement of Africans at the center of America’s story, prompting public conversation about the nation’s founding and evolution.”

2022

Florida Restricts Race-related Lessons

Florida's anti-woke governor smiles while children sadly look on confused

Florida instituted restrictions on how schools and businesses can teach race-related concepts. The law, called the Stop Woke Act, limits instruction on critical race theory. Since its signing, K-12 public educators in the state have been prohibited from instructing students on the concepts of privilege or oppression based on their race, sex, or national origin. It’s the latest part of Republican Gov. Ron Desantis’ extensive efforts to reshape public education and curriculum in the state of Florida.

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First African American Woman Appointed to Supreme Court

Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson, nominated by President Joe Biden, is appointed to the Supreme Court.

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US Schools Ban 1,600 Books

According to CBS News: “During the 2021-2022 school year, more than 1,600 books were banned from school libraries. The bans affected 138 school districts in 32 states, according to a report from PEN America, an organization dedicated to protecting free expression in literature.”

According to PEN America, “the large majority of book bans underway today are not spontaneous, organic expressions of citizen concern. Rather, they reflect the work of a growing number of advocacy organizations that have made demanding censorship of certain books and ideas in schools part of their mission.”

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2023

Kansas and other states pass laws against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Across the United States, 2023 has seen a significant number of proposed laws aimed at addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and curriculum in higher education. More than 30 bills targeting DEI have been introduced since April 17, reflecting the widespread nature of this trend.

United States Supreme Court Rules Against Affirmative Action in College Admissions

The U.S. Supreme Court made a historic decision that effectively ended race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities nationwide. The decision, supported by the conservative supermajority, invalidated admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. It overturns decades of precedent and prohibits colleges from considering race as a factor in admissions. Chief Justice John Roberts, who opposes affirmative action, argued that colleges should use colorblind criteria. However, opponents of the decision, such as Columbia University President Bollinger and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, believe it perpetuates racial inequality and undermines equal protection. The decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only higher education but also areas like employment and promotion decisions.

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