The Civil Rights Act

In the 1960 presidential election campaign John F. Kennedy supported the Civil Rights Act which made him gain the support and votes of 70 per cent of African Americans. However, during the first two years of his presidency, Kennedy failed to accomplish what he had promised.

The Civil Rights bill was brought before Congress in 1963 and in a speech on television on 11th June, Kennedy pointed out that: "The Negro baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the nation in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing high school as a white baby born in the same place on the same day; one third as much chance of completing college; one third as much chance of becoming a professional man; twice as much chance of becoming unemployed; about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year; a life expectancy which is seven years shorter; and the prospects of earning only half as much."

Unfortunately, the assassination of president Kennedy was as unexpected as shocking to the world, leaving his vice-president Lyndon Johnson as the new president of the United States. Johnson believed that he owed Kennedy the duty to push through the act. He also believed that it was needed to advance the African Americans within U.S society and thanks to people like Martin Luther KIng and Malcolm X, society had started to change in just a few years. Therefore, Johnson used Kennedy's murder to appeal to the community so in July of 1964 president Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal