Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism and death.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark legislative reform, which President John F. Kennedy initially proposed and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed. The act banned discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and national origin, prohibiting segregation in education, employment, and public spaces. Despite its passage, the reform faced opposition from segregationist politicians and was difficult to enforce. Ultimately, Congress asserted its legislative authority, following the constitutional law for equal protection of all US citizens. The act was a major success for the civil rights movement and paved the way for future legal reforms.

The Voting Rights Act, which President Johnson signed in 1965, aimed to remove legal and state barriers to Black Americans’ voting rights. The act resulted from civil rights activism, such as voting registration drives and marches, in the South. These demonstrations culminated in the Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights. During the protest, police troopers severely beat protesters, and the event was nationally televised. Following the incident, President Johnson called for a voting rights bill. King was present at the ceremony of its signing. The act banned literacy tests and authorized federal investigation in voting registrations.