University of Alabama Desegregated
On June 11, 1963, one of the most significant events of the American Civil Rights Movement occurred when Governor George Wallace famously stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama in an attempt to block the enrollment of two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood. This standoff was resolved when President John […]
Bob Dylan’s Stand on “The Ed Sullivan Show”
Bob Dylan, then a rising folk singer, famously walked out on a scheduled performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on May 12, 1963. Dylan had planned to perform “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues,” a satirical song about the Red Scare and the John Birch Society, but was asked by the show’s producers to choose a […]
Martin Luther King Writes “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
On this day in history, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, for participating in nonviolent protests against racial segregation. During his imprisonment, King pens his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” a powerful and eloquent defense of civil disobedience and the struggle for racial justice that would become one […]
Alcatraz Closes its Doors
On this day in history, the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary closes its doors, marking the end of its role as a high-security prison housing some of America’s most notorious criminals. Located on an island in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz gained a reputation as an escape-proof facility during its 29 years of operation, capturing the public’s […]
Kenya Gains Independence from British Rule
December 12th, 1963, marked a momentous occasion as Kenya officially gained independence from British colonial rule. Jomo Kenyatta became the country’s first Prime Minister, leading Kenya into a new era.
Lee Harvey Oswald is Assassinated
Just days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, on November 24th, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin, was shot and killed by Jack Ruby in a Dallas police station. This event added further intrigue to an already tragic moment in history.
President John F. Kennedy Assassinated in Dallas
A somber moment in history occurred on November 22nd, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This tragic event had a profound impact on the United States and the world.
Ku Klux Klan Bomb
Ku Klux Klan bomb kills 4 young African-American girls. 4 members of the white supremacy group, set off a timed bomb at the 16th Street Baptist Church, a predominantly black church in Birmingham, Alabama. The bombings marked a watershed moment in the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio, and its first inductees included Jim Thorpe and George Halas.
The Great Train Robbery
One of the most audacious heists in British history, occurred on August 8th, 1963, when thieves stole millions from a Royal Mail train.