Civil Rights Act 1964 & Voting Rights Act 1965 CRA banned segregation in public accommodations Gave federal government the ability to desegregate schools Could prosecute individuals who violated people’s civil rights Outlawed discrimination in employment and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Spurred by actions of protestors and President Johnson, Congress passed the VRA It banned literacy tests and empowered the government to oversee voting registration These two civil rights laws by President Johnson are considered to be landmarks in American history

Race Riots & Kerner Commission Riots began around the country because of frustration over discrimination and poverty Worst in Newark, New Jersey and Detroit, Michigan in summer of 1967 Blacks using violence against police and white business owners in black neighborhoods President Johnson established the Kerner Commission to determine the cause of the riots They concluded that racial discrimination was the cause and recommended extending federal programs to Urban black neighborhoods Results of commission became controversial and was not followed up on by Johnson because busy with Vietnam

Malcolm X Had a rough childhood; influenced by race riots; was arrested While in jail, he converted to the Nation of Islam A branch of Islam begun in the United States Had strict rules of behavior Told blacks to separate from whites Went to Mecca, came back to America and wanted all races to be equal 1965, members of Nation of Islam killed Malcolm X

Black Power In late 1960s, civil rights leaders began to disagree about the movement SCLC wanted more nonviolent protests but other groups wanted to be more aggressive 1966, SNCC kicked out white members and became increasingly more violent under the leadership of Stokely Carmichael Began to call for “black power” Wanted blacks to make their own organizations to fight racism Move away from nonviolence Black Panthers came from this black power movement Young militant African Americans; protected urban neighborhoods from police abuse; created antipoverty programs Black Power movement taught that African Americans should separate from white society and lead their own communities

MLK’s Final Days Understood the anger and frustration of many urban African Americans He disagreed with the call for “black power” He was assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee His assassination triggered riots in more than 100 cities 2 months later Robert Kennedy was assassinated Many believe the movement ended with MLK’s assassination, but many believe the fight for full equality still goes on