The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Library of Congress in Washington DC is currently hosting an exhibition, with an accompanying web site, that contains a wealth of information, photos, multimedia and documents that explore the history of the civil rights movement in the United States.
“This exhibition, which commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, explores the events that shaped the civil rights movement, as well as the far-reaching impact the act had on a changing society. The act is considered the most significant piece of civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in voting, public accommodations, public facilities, public education, federally funded programs, and employment.”
View a copy of the original ‘Civil Rights Act of 1964’ from the National Archives.
Major Features of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 can be read at CongressLink, along with a case history outlining the legislative action that led to the act.
And of course many fine books and articles can be found about the Civil Rights Act by searching ‘Primo Search’ at the Collins Memorial Library.
By Andrea Kueter, Social Sciences Librarian