6.2 Civil Rights Legislation and Voting Rights

The Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were landmark laws that reshaped American society. They banned discrimination, desegregated public spaces, and protected voting rights for minorities. These laws marked a turning point in the struggle for racial equality.

Despite progress, resistance to civil rights legislation persisted. Violence, intimidation, and institutional barriers slowed integration efforts. While the laws expanded opportunities for African Americans, challenges to achieving full racial equality remain ongoing today.

Civil Rights Legislation

Provisions of Civil Rights Act

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• Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
  • Banned segregation in public accommodations (hotels, restaurants, theaters)
  • Outlawed discrimination in employment practices
  • Prohibited discrimination in federally funded programs
• Established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce provisions related to employment discrimination
• Laid the groundwork for further civil rights legislation and court decisions
• Contributed to the desegregation of schools, workplaces, and public facilities
• Encouraged the integration of African Americans into mainstream American society

Impact of Voting Rights Act

• Banned discriminatory voting practices (literacy tests, poll taxes)
• Authorized federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of discrimination
• Empowered the U.S. Attorney General to investigate and challenge discriminatory voting practices
• Led to a significant increase in African American voter registration and participation
  • Mississippi: African American voter registration increased from 6.7% in 1964 to 59.8% in 1967
  • Alabama: African American voter registration increased from 19.3% in 1964 to 51.6% in 1967
• Facilitated the election of African American representatives at the local, state, and federal levels

Challenges and Long-term Impact

Resistance to civil rights legislation

• Some state and local governments resisted desegregation efforts
  • Alabama Governor George Wallace's "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" to prevent integration at the University of Alabama
  • Massive resistance in Southern states to school desegregation following the Brown v. Board of Education decision
• Violence and intimidation against civil rights activists and African Americans
  • Bombings of churches and homes (16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama)
  • Murders of civil rights workers (Mississippi Burning case)
• Challenges in enforcing anti-discrimination provisions in employment and housing
• Resistance from some white Americans who opposed integration and perceived civil rights legislation as a threat to their way of life

Long-term effects of Johnson's policies

• Increased opportunities for African Americans in education, employment, and political participation
• Contributed to the growth of the African American middle class
• Laid the foundation for further civil rights advancements (affirmative action policies, Fair Housing Act of 1968)
• Inspired other marginalized groups (women, LGBTQ+ community) to advocate for their rights
• Ongoing challenges in achieving full racial equality, as evidenced by disparities in income, education, and criminal justice system
  • Persistence of de facto segregation in housing and schools
  • Disproportionate incarceration rates among African Americans
• Continued debates over the role of government in addressing systemic racism and promoting social justice