NCJ Number
131588
Journal
Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1990) Pages: 273-285
Date Published
1990
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The civil rights gains achieved by black people in the United States during much of the 20th century have been eroded by Federal policy and budget decisions during the 1980's. Without further commitment and efforts, black people will not achieve full civil rights.
Abstract
The civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's resulted in legislation and court decisions that provided blacks with Federal protection for rights already enjoyed by most Americans. However, continued racism and an economic system dependent on class division have caused the black underclass to grow. In addition, during the 1980's, Federal judicial appointments, the movement toward removal of government regulations in a variety of areas, and the indifference of the Federal government to issues of racial discrimination have seriously threatened efforts to achieve racial justice. President Bush's new budget also indicates a continuation of the Reagan policies regarding civil rights. To counter these trends, ordinary people must be willing to take control of their lives and work toward racial justice. Footnotes