Civil Right Act Of 1968 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Civil Right Act Of 1968 - Essay Example Before the civil rights era, the situations regarding the racial discrimination were very worse. White race was considered supreme and white Americans have the power to consider the black (Afro-Americans) as the underprivileged race. There was no equal education of the Black Americans, no equal employment, no equal housing. Black people were unable to buy a home even if they have the money to buy it. For this reason, black Americans demanded equal rights as that of the White Americans. Fair housing act was one of the demands that were debated and signed in 1968.Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts was the first African-American ever elected to Senate. He was unable to buy a home due to his race. After that issue, the fair housing act was debated in the Senate strongly. Senate Leader, â€Å"Everett Dirksen†, strongly supported the bill in the senate. It was thought at the earlier stage that the House of Representative would not gain a higher ratio of votes. However, the House of Representatives passed the bill due to urban unrest and militancy of African Americans movements.On 4th April 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and African Americans movements played part in riots, burning and looting in most cities. President Lyndon B. Johnson emphasized to pass the new civil rights bill to cool down the African Americans movements. On April 10, the fair housing act was passed and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to become a law the very next day.