This Act dismantled segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the foundation of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The law was first introduced by President John F. Kennedy. Though Kennedy worried about losing the support of white Southern Democrats, still the main political force in that region. He was especially concerned about his re-election prospects in 1964 due to supporting the African Americans goals of equality. With his assassination on November 22 1963 his successor Lyndon B. Johnson took office and continued Kennedy’s aspirations. Johnson intensified the campaign his predecessor began and he was a better candidate to do so. Johnson was very understanding as “he mastered the art of compromise, gaining many victories for his party’s legislative agenda. He also developed close relationships with senators and representatives of both political parties.” (Loevy, 1). Johnson was finally able to get the law passed with the support of congress. No longer could blacks and other minorities be denied service simply based on the color of their skin. This provided minorities with equal employment opportunities which they did not have prior to this law. The momentum of the Civil Rights movement started on December 1st, 1955 with …show more content…
The most famous voice of the Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Jr. King was a Baptist minister and a social activist. His philosophy was inspired by advocates of nonviolence Mahatma Gandhi. King sought for equality rights through the African American community and did so through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind noticeable important events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the March on Washington. He was the public face and name of the time period between the 1950’s and 1968. During this time he organized, along with other social activist the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Upon its founding “they issued a document declaring that civil rights are essential to democracy, that segregation must end, and that all Black people should reject segregation absolutely and nonviolently.” (Our, 1) Their goal was to promote peaceful protest and gain equality without the cost of lives. Unfortunately lives were lost. At the ending of the 1960’s one of the darkest days happened during the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr., the symbolic symbol of the Civil Rights Movement was assassinated in his apartment on April 4th 1968 by James Earl Ray. Though he accomplished his goal of murdering King, he failed to stop the movement. If anything he brought the movement even closer to its goal of equality. The community came together and mourn