50 Years Ago Today: US President Johnson Signed Fair Housing Act

Hi, friends. On April 4th, we remembered the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s murder. Today, we remember the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act being signed.

Primarily in response to civil disobedience and rightful protest against institutional racism, the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. The Civil Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson after passing through Congress, outlawed racial segregation in schools, voter registration, employment, and public accommodations. Plenty of sources identify the “loopholes” of the 1964 CRA.

While the Civil Rights Act was certainly progressive, black Americans (and other groups) were still feeling prejudice when buying and renting homes. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlawed discrimination against a potential buyer or renter based on race.

Along with “race” and “color,” “religion” and “national origin” were protected classes in the 1968 FHA as well as the 1964 CRA. “Sex,” “disability,” and “familial status” were added in subsequent years.

Thanks for reading!

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