Political Maneuvering and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Skepticism about government is, in many respects, part of the DNA of Americans. This skepticism is not without reason – the actions of American politicians in the 1960s and 70s caused much of America to wonder about the motives of elected officials. However, such skepticism is rarely brought up when discussing the government’s participation in denouncing oppression against the African-American community. Most assume the government enforced equal opportunity for minorities out of compassion and humanity. However, much like the other major actions of the government during that era, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a groundbreaking law condemning segregation, was not devoid of personal motives. The Black community was not oblivious to this fact, and voiced its outrage through different mediums. Within the literary community, James Baldwin stands out as an author who especially attacked the government, claiming all the benefits his community was now receiving was not the result of compassion, but rather was the result of politics as usual. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered groundbreaking legislation for a number of reasons. Prior to this bill, there was no legislation that made segregation, or discrimination against African-Americans illegal. Taking a closer look at the law will reveal the various facets through which the Civil Rights Act denounces segregation. While this legislation is composed of eleven titles, it is really the first seven which caused the most noticeable change in the American landscape. Title I of the act “[was] designed to close loopholes that the Southern States [had] discovered” (Summary of Provisions) in previous Civil Rights bills, primarily in the topi... ... middle of paper ... ...27 Nov 1963. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. 26 April 2004. http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/631127.asp ---. Radio and Television Remarks Upon Signing the Civil Rights Bill. 2 July 1964. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. 26 April 2004. http://128.83.78.10/johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/640702.asp Kennedy, John F. The White House Special Message on Civil Rights. 28 Feb 1963. CongressLink. 7 April 2004. http://www.congresslink.org/civil/cr1.html King Jr., Martin Luther. “Our God is Marching On!” The Eyes on the Prize Civil Rights Reader. Eds. Clayborne Carson, David J Garrow, Gerald Gill, Vincent Harding, Darlene Clark Hing. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1991. 224-227. "Summary of Provisions of Rights Bill." New York Times 10 Feb. 1964. “The Skipper and the Ship.” Time 14 Feb 1964: 13.

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