What civil rights efforts directly led up to the Fair Housing Act and how was Dr. King involved?
The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965, both of which codified legal protections against racial discrimination.
King and other civil rights advocates lead the Chicago Freedom Movement in 1965 to 1966 in Chicago, Illinois. It fought against discrimination in housing specifically, as well as in education and employment. During these efforts, he directly negotiated agreements with city leaders to address housing inequality. He advocated for the right to buy a home anywhere.
In 1967, King spoke about the need for federal fair housing legislation in his speech titled “The Other America” at Stanford University.
The Fair Housing Act was signed into law in 1968, one week after Dr. King’s assassination. President Lyndon B. Johnson increased pressure on Congress to pass the bill after King’s assassination.
What is the Fair Housing Act?
Originally passed in 1968, it made it illegal to discrimination in the sale, rental, or buying of housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin. It was first amended in 1974 to include protections against discrimination based on sex. And in 1988, it was modified again this time to protect those with disabilities and families with children against housing discrimination.
“[Now], over 50 years since Dr. King’s assassination and the passage of the Fair Housing Act, there is still a lot left to achieve in the realm of fair housing. While we have made strides thanks to the efforts of civil rights activists, the need for such advocacy has
far from disappeared.”
-Equal Rights Center
