To what extent do you think that the 1964 Civil Rights Act was the most significant factor in

achieving equality for African Americans in the period 1908-2008?

The 1964 Civil Rights Act was partially significant as it ended segregation in public places
which was considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights
movement and also attempted to ban employment discrimination. Nonetheless, the main
assertion is that the Civil Rights Act did not fully enforce African Americans the equality and
treatment they deserved and still deserve till this day. The act did not meet the goals of one
of the greatest Civil Rights activists, Martin Luther King Jr. He expressed that the Civil Rights
act was nothing less than a ‘second emancipation” that was designed to end segregation.

One could propound the view that the civil rights act paved the way for two other major
laws that are considered to have helped achieve equality. The voting rights act of 1965 took
stride in prohibiting literary tests and aimed to overcome legal barriers, at the state that
initially prevented African Americans from having voting practices. This was the most far
reaching of civil rights legislations in the United States. The fair housing act of 1968 banned
discrimination in the sale rental and financing properties. This is significant as it attempted
to protect those who wanted to buy a house from sellers and landlords that were
discriminating.
On the contrary, despite the passing of the Fair Housing Act, housing remained segregated
in many areas of the United States. Between the years 1950 to 1980 (many years prior and
after the act was passed) the population of African Americans increased by almost 10
million. During the time white Americans also moved from the cities to the suburbs, this
resulted in blacks losing job opportunities especially in areas where they were not
welcomed. This is a clear example of how the civil Rights act and the acts that emerged from
it were not fully successful as Black African Americans still overpopulated urban ghetto
communities that were saturated with unemployment.

Therefore, it could be argued that the forces for change such as presidential action, world
war one and two, Role of women throughout the period, Roles of courts, sports success and
culture were more remarkable than the civil rights act.

The Federal government played a crucial role in attempting to achieve equality for African
Americans. Although the struggle for equality in the south may have still taken place it
would not have been more efficient in terms of authority and power that the government
possessed.
President Truman is an example of how some presidents who were originally racist and
reluctant for change in the 1900s became sympathetic towards African Americans. Truman
at one point supported legislations that were put forward to abolish the poll tax and
attempt to put an end to lynching. He also told the majority of the audience during his
campaign that blacks should have equality before the law. However, it could be
questionable whether Truman had pure intentions in helping African Americans or he
changed his stance mainly because blacks at the time were perceived to be important
democratic voters. Furthermore, Truman used his presidential power to appoints some
African Americans to eminent posts, an example being a black governor of the Virgin Isles.
One could infer that that it was the combination of black votes and ideas on what was best
for America that enabled him towards advocacy of greater equality for Africans. This is a
positive change than the actions previously put forward during Woodraws presidency
between the years 1913 and 1921. He completely disregarded blacks, praised the Klu Klux
Klan (who were a violent terrorist group that targeted black Americans) and rolled back hard
fought economic progress.
Lyndon B.Johnson is an example of an advocate for the civil rights