Three years later, a Democratic-controlled Congress passed-and a Republican president, Richard Nixon, signed-the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. A commission appointed by President Johnson to find the causes of these disturbances reached this troubling conclusion: "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white-separate and unequal."īy 1969, some lawmakers were arguing that anti-discrimination laws like Title VII were not enough to end the inequality in American society. Then, in 1967, a series of major riots exploded in black communities across the nation. In fact, the law specifically banned such quotas.ĭespite Title VII, equal opportunity in employment for African Americans did not improve. It did not, however, include any requirement that a percentage of jobs be set aside for minorities or women. Title VII made it illegal to deny employment opportunities because of a person's race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. It included a provision prohibiting discrimination in employment ( Title VII). Shortly after the assassination of President Kennedy, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. When it came to awarding public-works projects like the vast interstate highway system, few minority-owned companies got the work. Moreover, African-American workers were concentrated in the lowest-paying jobs. At this time, the black unemployment rate was double that of white workers. A massive civil rights movement developed.īy the 1960s, the civil rights movement was pressing Congress to do something about racial discrimination in employment. Congress passed the first civil rights act since Reconstruction. Supreme Court outlawed segregated schools. Civil rights activists marched and held sit-ins throughout the South. ![]() The drive for equality took hold in the 1950s. ![]() Many of these good jobs were controlled by unions, which often excluded minorities. They seldom worked at the best-paying skilled and blue-collar jobs. Minorities held few elected offices or management positions in private industry. Across the nation, blacks and whites lived in separate neighborhoods. In the South, blacks and whites attended separate schools, ate in separate restaurants, and even drank from separate drinking fountains. The United States was a highly segregated society until the 1950s. No, say those who argue that affirmative action is a remedy for racial minorities and women who have been systematically excluded and discriminated against for many years. ![]() The program defined such persons as women and members of racial minorities.ĭoes affirmative action violate the 14th Amendment's requirement of equal protection? Yes, say those who argue that affirmative action unfairly discriminates by race or sex. The Department of Transportation argued that it was furthering the goals of its affirmative action program to award more public works projects to companies owned by disadvantaged persons. Adarand claimed that, as the lowest bidder, it should have gotten the guardrail contract. Adarand Constructors filed a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation.
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