U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 3

WASHINGTON, July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SATURDAY, JULY 3: CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

Profile America — Saturday, July 3rd.  One of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of the country became law on this date in 1964, as President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.  The act prohibited discrimination on the basis of race in all accommodations and facilities open to the public, as well as employment, union membership and voter registration.  To put teeth into the law, one provision allowed for the cutoff of federal funding in areas where discrimination persisted.  Shortly after the Civil Rights Act became law, nearly 42 percent of blacks lived in poverty.  Today, that figure is just under 25 percent. In 1964, less than 20 percent of African- American adults had a high school diploma.  Now, 83 percent have graduated.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 351

U.S. Census Bureau, Press Release CB09-141

Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 380

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, p. 224

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau