The Civil Rights Act, 1964, is a comprehensive American law that aims to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. It is often referred to as the most important U.S. focus on civil rights since Reconstruction (1865–77). The law is called and it is a hallmark of the American civil rights movement.
What is Civil Rights Act 1964?
Title I of the Act guarantees equal voting rights by removing biased registration requirements and procedures against minorities and the disadvantaged.
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| Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Martin Luther King, Jr., and others look at Washington, D.C., July 2, 1964. , (photo source – www.britannica.com) |
Title II prohibits segregation or discrimination of any kind in places of public accommodation involved in interstate commerce.
Title VII prohibits discrimination by trade unions, schools, or employers involved in interstate commerce or doing business with the federal government. The latter clause also applied to discrimination on the basis of sex and established a government agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), to enforce these provisions. U.S. in 2020 The Supreme Court ruled that firing an employee for being gay, lesbian, or transgender is illegal under Title VII’s Prohibition of Sexual Discrimination (Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia).
The act also calls for the segregation of public schools (Title IV), expands the duties of the Civil Rights Commission (Title V), and mandates discrimination in the distribution of funds under federally aided programs (Title VI).
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| Civil Rights Act and Lyndon B. Johnson US President Lyndon B. Johnson prepares to sign the Civil Rights Act during a ceremony at the White House on July 2, 1964 (photo source www.britannica.com) |
As soon as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was proposed by President John F. Kennedy, it became controversial in the United States. Although Kennedy was unable to pass the bill in Congress, a stronger version was eventually passed with the insistence of his successor, the president.
When did the civil rights act come into force in america
Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed the bill into law on July 2, 1964, after one of the longest debates in Senate history. White groups opposing integration with African-Americans responded to the act with a significant backlash, which took the form of protests and some racial violence, increasing support for pro-segregation candidates for public office. The constitutionality of the act was immediately challenged and the Heart of Atlanta Motel v. (1964) this was upheld by the Supreme Court in the trial case. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 enforces equality in employment, voting, and public facilities in the United States by prohibiting any form of discrimination on the basis of racial discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 empowers enforcement agencies to prevent discrimination.
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| Civil Rights Act of 1964 US President Lyndon B. Johnson shakes hands with civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. on July 2, 1964, shortly after the Civil Rights Act was signed into law.—(Photo Source-www.britannica.com) |
2014 marked the 50th anniversary of the act. The ceremony, held in Austin Texas (Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library), was attended by veteran American speakers. Speakers included US President – Speakers include the then US President – in addition to Barack Obama – former President –
Jimmy Carter,
Bill Clinton and George W Bush were involved.
The anniversary was commemorated by posthumously awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the pioneers of the Civil Rights Act—Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King—who were instrumental in getting the Act passed.
source- https://www.britannica.com/event/Civil-Rights-Act-United-States-1964