Civil Rights Act 1964

In July 2 1964, Congress passed Pub.L. 88–352, 78 Stat. 241, also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This was a major achievement in the civil rights movement. It was first proposed by John F Kennedy and later signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson despite strong opposition from Southern members of Congress especially Senators Albert Gore, Sr. (D-TN), J. William Fulbright (D-AR), and Robert Byrd (D-WV) who led an unsuccessful 83 day filibuster. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public. Later, Congress passed additional legislation to expand the act and its enforcement and aimed at bringing more equality to African Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a result of these additions. Today, we live in a diverse country where everyone is treated equally in public areas and the private sector. Everyone is protected by this Act and we grow stronger everyday. Racism may not be completely eliminated, but it is no longer legal to discriminate. And if it wasn't for this act, we wouldn't even have the first African American President, Barack Obama in office as well as many other Black politicians in Congress and the Supreme Court, and other public offices.