1964 was an important year in American history especially for African-American community and other small groups. It marked a declaration that gave hope to an end of the dark days of social injustice and discrimination based on various facet: origin, color, race, and nationality. This was due to the completion and honoring America with the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. It sought to end the segregation that existed in the United States and blessed every American citizen to experience full freedom and to reward the Struggle of the civil right activists (Howard, 2005) . It is the African-Americans who benefitted the most from the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The previous years of 1964 were marred with great social discrimination and segregation. This was accompanied by various civil rights movements, riots and protests in various cities. The protestors were meted by police brutality which always see many people injured and arrested. Police-protestors confrontation was an ugly experience which did not reflect the true meaning of the values that America stands for (Howard, 2005) . When John F. Kennedy (JKF) ascended to power in 1961, African-Americans were filled with great hope that their big questions and answers would be provided. JKF was the first to propose the Civil Rights Acts which would seek to expand opportunities across all facets; equality and in a non-discriminable way. The proposal was not met with enthusiasm by all Americans, it received a massive resistance especially from the members of the congress (Clay, 2014) . The dream was almost short-lived when JKF was assassinated in 1963 but the spirit of the civil right activist did not die. They continued to fight for a free America and freedom of the “negro’ community. In 1963, Martin Luther King Junior, the leader of civil right activist movement then released his “I have a dream speech” which came to bear the fruits in 1964 when JKF Successor, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Act into law. This was a time of historical achievement (Clay, 2014) . In 1960s, Civil Right Movement was very pivotal in shaping the social justice intercession in a great way and provided an instigation to various forms of injustice and oppression. Therefore, the civil rights movement is the reason behind the success obtained in 1964 and provided a platform for people to enjoy the freedom they deserve as citizens of a great nation. They catalyst the signing of the Act into law (Robert, 2004) . Also, they provided a base for other movement to fight against the various ‘isms’ that existed then (Judy, 2007) .
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The Civil Rights Act sought to put a stop to the great discriminatory practices meted on some groups of citizens in social, economic and political quotas. They covered widely from small places of gatherings such as churches and extended to national institutions and organizations such as courts and hospitals (John, 2008) . It accommodated everyone freely and set out legal ramifications towards all those discriminatory practices. The following were the provisions of the 1964 Act: conferment of voting right as provided by the law. Those who were omitted by mistake or default were reinstated and rights given to individual as provided by the federal law. They amended various sections in the federal law to accommodate changes to conduct free fair and voting excises; gave an equal entitlement to enjoy public resources and accommodation without discrimination on any basis (EEOC, 1964) . It ensured that every individual was entitled to enjoy services and public accommodation facilities. Also, outlined legal ramification towards any person who will be found guilty of discrimination; provisions of public facilities without desegregation including the protection of law and application of civil rights; freedom to education in public school without regard of their facet; provision of equal education opportunities and reduce racial imbalance (EEOC, 1964) . A survey was to be done and identify the racial imbalance and foster the provision of equal opportunities in all levels of academic systems; technical assistance which included the provision of assistances to various students faced with problems (EEOC, 1964) . Also, the state organized training programs for teachers and supervisors at various levels to ensure that they have the skill to deal with cases of students with special needs and offer grants to such students; the state also ascertained to sue every individual, group, institution or organization through the attorney general if they receive a written complaint of discrimination of segregation based on color, religion, origin or nationality; provision of equal employment opportunities based on qualification other than considering discriminatory factors among other important provision of the Act (EEOC, 1964) .
Over the years before 1964, the African-American communities suffered from employment discrimination both from private and public forums. A large number of the Negro family were not employed which led to an increase in crimes in their neighborhood. The lazy ones sorted to doing drugs and living in poor states destroying their lives and rendering them miserable (Robert, 2004) . Besides, some managers and employees while announcing for vacancies made it clear in the advertisements that “no Negro accepted” or in other terms put as “whites only”. This automatically locked out the Negro person irrespective of their qualification for such positions (Howard, 2005) . The Act opened ways for the Negro to get employment without discrimination of any kind. They were able to secure jobs which originally they were not able to thus better their lives and improve their neighborhoods hence elevating their social status from poverty (Howard, 2005) . The white-Americans already had opportunities to secure jobs much easier without competition from the Negro thus this provision did not favor them instead introduced more competition. In addition, there was reduced workplace discrimination and mistreatment. Workers were able to interact with one another as human being both in the vertical and horizontal level increasing information and knowledge sharing in a free manner without discretion (Howard, 2005) .
Also, there was opportunities to access education facilities freely and without discrimination. All along, there was a big asperity between the “white schools” and “black schools” (John, 2008) . The latter did not have sufficient resources and facilities to facilitate proper education foundation. However, the Act opened freedom and new opportunities for the African-American person to get good education and advance into professional careers. Both public schools and universities were opened up for accommodation of all students from all gender, race, religion and origin. It enabled free mixing and interaction of blacks and whites and provided equal opportunity for advancement. The African-American benefited mostly because they were offered new opportunities to join better schools, get to interact with great minds both teachers and students and get access to good education that they were not able to receive in their poor neighborhoods (Judy, 2007) . It also brought peace between learners that did not exist before. On the other hand, the white child was faced with more competition since they have to navigate through the stiff competitive conditions (Robert, 2004) .
Besides, the Act provided an opportunity for freedom to enable all citizens to enjoy the services of public places and gatherings such as hotels and hospitals. Before, there were facilities regarded as for whites and blacks. The Act provided for equal access to such services where consumers are serviced according to the provision of the law and not by the color of their skin or origin (Judy, 2007) . Gathering in many states was totally impossible for the African-American person especially the states in the south. Before the Act, institutions were free to offer their services with great discrimination without being punished. Service facilities were marked with appropriate symbols and gestures such as “whites only”, “white hotels” or “white fountains” (Robert, 2004) . However, the Act provided opportunities without discretion. The African-American community were able to visit every facilities that they were unable to visit and find specialized care while the whites were now facing competition from the blacks from those same services.
Moreover, the Act provided equal opportunity to be protected by the federal law and get government related services. The African-American community were now protected from police brutality and unfair treatment by various state organs. They were able to enjoy the true freedom of a citizen. The state also provided an opportunity to sue any individual who in any case gets involved in any discriminatory practices that are against the state laws (EEOC, 1964) . Complaints were to be reigned through written documents and then the attorney general would act appropriately. This was a great promise of deliverance from unfair treatment meted.
In addition, the Act scrubbed off the existent system of unequal voter service administration instead paved way for amendment and in 1965 the Voting Acts Rights was introduced (Clay, 2014) . The 1965 rights ensured that there is no discriminatory practices when carrying out voter tests. Everyone would be able to vote freely and without being molested. It gave an opportunity for the African-American people to exercise their democratic rights and even present candidates without excessive burden. This was an advantage to them because for the first time they started to rise to leadership positions (John, 2008) .
The Civil Act of 1964 benefitted mostly the African-American community. It opened up new opportunities which they never had before but dreamt of. It also introduced fair treatment to them and enabled them to enjoy the fruits of being a citizen of the federal republic. They were able to go to good schools, live in healthy neighborhoods, be attended to by good doctors in good hospitals and enjoy the state protection as well as services. Most importantly, the weight of discrimination and segregation was taken away and thus they were the greatest beneficiary of the Act. Besides, the leader of the civil right movement were African-American who were fighting for the interest of the blacks.
References
Clay, R. (2014). Bill of the Century. New York: Bloomsbury Press.
EEOC. (1964, July 2). Civil Rights Act of 1964 . Retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/history/35th/thelaw/civil-rights_act.html
Howard, Z. (2005). A People's History of the United States. New York:. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
John, G. (2008). America in the sixties ( America in the Twentieth Centrury). Houston: Kindle Press.
Judy, H. L. (2007). The Civil Rights Act of 1964: An End to Racial Segregation (Milestones in the american History0. Chelsea House Pub.
Robert, M. H. (2004). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (at Issue in History). Greenhaven Press.
