Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Howard University Commemorates 50 Years of the Civil Rights Act - Higher Education

Howard University Commemorates 50 Years of the Civil Rights Act - Higher Education: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, activists and senior government officials gathered at Howard University to celebrate past achievements and look to the future of racial equality.

Half a century ago, activists and civil leaders realized the dream of ensuring full equality under the law for all citizens, regardless of race. In a packed auditorium at Howard University, the audience heard speeches and remarks on their achievements from Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.; U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan; Julian Bond, former chairman of the NAACP; and U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez; among others.

According to panelists and speakers, the legislation, monumental though it may be, has not provided the solution to contemporary problems of income and educational inequality that tend to fall most heavily upon minority populations. Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim president of Howard University, said, “The Civil Rights Act was a destination, an important one albeit, but not an end.”