Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Essay

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Civil Rights has played an enormous role in America today. It provides political, social, and educational freedom. Civil Rights gives all people the right to live freely. The Civil Rights movement began in the 1950’s to ensure all people were treated equally, despite their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Although Abraham Lincoln ended slavery on January 1, 1863, African-Americans still had far to go in order to be treated equal. The Act of 1964 changed the country forever. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has made America one of the most culturally diverse in the world. The Act of 1964 gave African-Americans a chance at being equal with whites.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was the “Crowning Legislative” achievements of Civil Rights movement. Before the Act of 1964, 57% of

African American housing was not allowed. Their life expectancy was seven years less than whites. 50% of African-Americans had a chance of completing school, 33% completed college, 33% became a professional, two times the unemployment, and 14% earned $10,000 or more a year. After the Act was passed, income has risen and poverty has declined. The first African-American president was elected on November 4, 2008. He was re-elected in 2012. A big influence that helped get the Act started was Rosa Parks. On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. He feuded with her and she was arrested. The issue was what started the Civil Rights battle. For her 100th birthday, United States Post Office issued a stamp in her honor for what she had done.
After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, she was a big inspiration to people. It was what started the idea of the Act. John F. Kennedy first proposed the idea of the Act on June 11, 1963. He believed that everyone should be treated equally. In the speech, Kennedy said, “If an American, because his skin is dark . . . cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place?”. Following the speech, the Mississippi Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers was murdered and Kennedy faced personal and political conflicts. People were reluctant on what Kennedy had said about equal rights. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963. After his speech, more people started supporting the idea of the Act. John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 and Vice President Lyndon Johnson took office. Johnson agreed with Kennedy and strived to get the Act passed. On November 27, 1963, five days after Kennedy’s death, Johnson spoke out about wanting what Kennedy wanted. Johnson says, “ We have talked long enough in this country about equal rights. It is time now to write the next chapter and write it in books of law”. February 10, 1964, the house passed a bill by a vote of 290 to 130. June 19, 1964, the 75 day filibuster passed the record breaking version by 73 to 27 margin. Johnson wanted the pill to be signed by July 4, 1964. When the bill was signed, Johnson said, “One hundred and eighty-eight years ago this week a small band of valiant men began a long struggle for freedom. Now our generation of Americans has been called on to continue the unending search for justice within our own borders”. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed on July 2, 1964. Martin Luther King Jr. was present for the signing. He said, “It was a great moment,something like the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln.” John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Martin Luther King Jr. all played a big role in the making of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Although the Act was passed, the Civil Rights movement didn’t end.

White people from the South used legal means to deny African-American southerners, even though the bill had passed. In the North, African-Americans still lived in bad parts of town and lived poorly. Some were homeless. White didn’t make it much easier for them to in school or in the community. The Act did force people to give African-Americans more freedom for Civil Rights. African-Americans were able to go to school, have jobs, give their opinions, and live more freely. People felt more safe to come to the States in order to live a better life and provide for their families. The Act was a big impact on the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Ofari-Hutchinson, an author and political analyst said,” That was a great moment of not only personal pride but of historical accomplishment. I know all African-Americans, no matter what age, what their religion or political convictions, or social standing, education or profession, all uniformly took pride in that

moment.”
The Act of 1964 is a Civil Right. The Act of 1964 brought equality to everyone, no matter who they were. The law forced Civil rights onto everyone. A Civil right has to be maintained at a federal level, either by federal legislation or federal court. The Act was signed by Lyndon Johnson in court at the White House on July 2, 1964. It was important to Americans political and social development.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 supported the nation and has given all people a better life. The Act ended segregation and banned discrimination on race, color, sex, religion, and national origin. Without Rosa Parks bravery, this Act may have never been started. Kennedy believed all men and women should be created equally and he shared that message with the people. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream and he spoke up for it. Johnson believed in the same rights as John F. Kennedy and gave African-Americans the hope to live like whites. Just think about how different our world would be if those people hadn’t spoken up for what they believed in.