The Civil Rights Act of 1957

Considering that the struggle for civil rights in the United States of America received opposition from the very entities put in place to advance it, i.e. the United States Supreme Court, Americans quickly realized that civil rights were not something to be left in the hands of a variety of courts and state governments. As a result, in 1957 Congress enacted The Civil Rights Act of 1957 which expanded the Department of Justice by creating a “Civil Rights Office.“

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

Again the American citizens might have hoped that now was the time that civil rights were finally realized by all. Sadly, they were mistaken. As late as 1960, African Americans at a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina, were required to stand while drinking their beverages because only Caucasian Americans were permitted to sit down. In 1962, an African American’s attempt at attending the University of Mississippi resulted in a court case and a melee that left 2 people dead, 28 marshals shot, and 160 people injured.

Further legislation was needed, and found, in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which is the very foundation for our civil rights today. Its preamble states its intent:

“To enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes.”

For the average American, this Act effectively guarantees that each citizen is guaranteed the right to vote, no matter what her/his socio-economic, educational, or racial background might be. Additionally, each person residing in the United States is protected against racial, religious, or ethnic discrimination in all public venues. For a country which experienced the dividing hatred of racial segregation, these two rights alone are monumental stepping stones of progress! Furthering this progress is the right to frequent desegregated public facilities, enjoy desegregated public education, and expect non-discriminatory treatment when applying for/participating in federally assisted programs. Protecting these rights is the Civil Rights Commission.

The first section of the act to add protection from discrimination based on gender is the equal opportunity employment portion of the act. Protecting this very right is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Act finishes up with a variety of procedural and administrative injunction, relief, and grievance efforts.

It is very apparent that the Act does not leave much to chance, and seeks to actively and vigorously address the issues at hand; however, this “at hand” was in 1964. Much has happened in American society since then, and many now seek to amend, change, and update the Act, while just as many seek to prevent such changes on religious, historical, legal, and Constitutional grounds.

Please take a look at your host’s book recommendations. These books make great gifts for the student in your house or the historic minded friend or family member. Additionally, they will assist the interested reader in examining the background of the struggles that inspired the legislation which makes this country great:

Why We Can't Wait

Freedom Summer