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The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination
on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, and national origin. The act
outlawed segregation in all public facilities, authorized the federal
government to force desegregation in schools, and established equal rights
in the workplace.
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed
discriminatory exam requirements for voter registration and allowed the
federal government to take over the registration process in states with a
history of discrimination. Both measures dramatically increased voter
registration by African Americans in the South.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1968, which eliminated
discrimination in housing and made it easier for minorities to secure loans
and mortgages.
Affirmative Action (1970s–Present)
Affirmative action programs try to rectify past
discrimination by giving minorities and women special consideration when
employees are hired and students are admitted into universities. Proponents
argue that affirmative action rights past wrongs and helps erase the effects of
racism and other bias. Critics argue that affirmative action unfairly
discriminates against whites, a phenomenon known as reverse
discrimination.
The Bakke Case
In 1978, the Supreme Court ruled in its first affirmative action
case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. The
Court upheld affirmative action but argued that although race could be a
factor in admissions decisions, it could not be the only factor.
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