The Kerner Commission Lesson Starter: What type of welcome did MLK receive in the North? Explain why this was the case.

Summer Riots Each summer in the years after the 1966 Chicago riots, more race riots occurred across the USA. One of the most destructive riots was in Detroit where several people were killed and millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed.

Investigation Kerner Commission – Official government investigation into the causes of the riots.

Conclusions USA split into two societies – black and poor, and white and richer. 40% of Black Americans lived in poverty. Black men twice as likely to be unemployed. Black men 3 times as likely to be in poor jobs. Cause of riots was poverty.

White society created the ghettos, White society kept them going and White society did nothing to improve them.

Results Few of the Report’s ideas were accepted. Civil Rights cause became unpopular with voters due to violent protests.

Civil Rights Act Banned discrimination in sale/rental of housing. Positive: Took complaints of MLK seriously. 2.Crime to move from state to state to help cause a riot. Negative: Black leaders could be arrested when moving from one state to another.