Implementing Civil Rights and the Great Society

1970s to Present

1950s-1960s

• Court Decisions, Legislation, and Administrative structures to implement Civil Rights: examples:– School integration– Integration of Public Accommodations– Voting Rights Act– Affirmative Action and Labor Policy

Examples of Federal Implementation

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), created in 1965

• Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Labor Department (OFCCP), created in 1965

• Civil Rights Division (Justice Department), founded in 1957.

EEOC

• Responds to complaints of discrimination by individuals

• Can sue violators on behalf of the federal government

• Offices around the country

OFCCP

• Conducts reviews of hiring and promotion practices of employers with federal contracts

• The question: does the workforce look like the labor pool?

• Can call for changes in labor practices by threatening to deny federal contracts

• Offices around the country

Civil Rights Division, DOJ

• Enforces all federal anti discrimination litigation

• Located in Washington, DC

Results?

• Women’s earnings on average: $.59 to $.75 of male wage

• By late 1990s: 40% of African-Americans in “middle class.” 60% of whites

• Continuing residential segregation by race: – Of WI pop: (~5 m): 220,000 African

Americans in Milwaukee are about 4% of state pop but 35-40% of city

Results….Political System

• Black elected officials (BEO): fewer than 1500 nationally in 1970; now over 9000

• Around 40 members of Congress; 49 big city mayors

• 57.1% of Black big city mayors elected in cities without a Black majority population

• Blacks are 4.7% of voting age population in WI. The 33 BEO are .2% of total in state.

Results…Political System, Wisconsin Legislature

Location Blacks as% of Voting Age Population

BEO in Legislature

% BEO in Legislature

WI 4.7 Assembly (6); Senate (2)

6.1

Nation 11.4 5,440; 1,985 8.1; 7.2

Results….Political System, Women

• National Positions:– Currently about 15% of U.S. House and Senate are

women; 2% since 1789– 32 women in cabinet posts ever (Frances Perkins, and

Oveta Culp Hobby were only 2 before 1975)

• State government: – Women hold 25% of statewide elective executive

offices– 28 women have ever held the position of state governor.– Women held 23% of state legislators nationwide - 2005;

as compared to 4.5% in 1971

New Issues in Implementation

• Glass Ceiling

• Affirmative Action

• Sexual Harassment

• Reverse Discrimination

• The Double Day

• Mommy Track