Reflecting on Race in America 50 Years after the Civil Rights Act

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act, landmark federal legislation that prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or national origin. Fifty years later, the Civil Rights Act is widely regarded as some of the most significant set of laws enacted in American history.

On October 8, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted a forum to commemorate the passage of the Civil Rights Act and discussed its legacy and meaning for today. Using this legislation as a jumping off point, discussion also centered on today’s environment with respect to contemporary race relations, inequality, discrimination, governance, polarization, and politics. Questions focused on how the Civil Rights Act informs our understanding of these issues, and what policy challenges may still persist.

Join the conversation on Twitter using #CivilRights50