The Civil Rights Act became law April 11,1968. However, this Act, also known as the Housing Rights Act of 1968, did not become law without a struggle.  A conservative legislative branch at the time utilized procedural legislative tactics that delayed the passage of the bill for several years. However, pressure mounted to pass the law after the assassination of civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King. The day after Dr. King’s funeral, Congress passed the Act overwhelmingly. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law the following day. 

It’s hard to imagine that less than 50 years ago, a person could be legally barred from the purchasing of a home based on the color of his or her skin. It’s also hard to believe that 50 years ago, black and white children were not allowed to sit in the classroom together. They were not allowed to ride the same school bus, or drink from the same water fountain. 

Fortunately these dismal aspects are a scar from our past. But discrimination based on the color of one’s skin still prevails. In honor of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, I urge my fellow citizens as you go about your daily lives to remain cognizant of the fact that all men and women are created equal. Our country was founded upon this very principle, and as citizens of this great nation it is important to carry on this legacy. 

Photo: Sunday, April 4, marked the anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. – one of America’s greatest champions of the civil rights movement.The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed several days after Dr’s King’s assassination.