Desegregation

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law on July 2, 1964, is a landmark piece of federal legislation that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and other marginalized groups. The act prohibits discrimination in voting, public accommodations, public facilities, public…

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. Created by middle-class Mexican Americans to fight racial discrimination and promote civic engagement, LULAC has worked to advance the economic, educational,…

Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District was a landmark federal court case in Texas that challenged the segregation of Mexican American students in public schools. Filed by Minerva Delgado and other parents with support from civil rights groups like LULAC and the American G.I. Forum, the case…

Serna v. Portales Municipal Schools arose when a group of Mexican‑American families sued the Portales, New Mexico, school district. They sued them for denying Spanish‑surnamed children an equal educational opportunity, such as adequate bilingual and bicultural resources. The U.S. District Court for…

Mendez v. Westminster was a landmark decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. It held that the segregation of Mexican American students into separate Mexican schools in Orange County, California, was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth…

Executive Order 10925 was issued by President John F. Kennedy on March 6,1961 and was a significant step in promoting equal employment opportunities in the United States. The order required federal agencies and government contractors to take "affirmative action" to ensure that hiring and…

Executive Order 9981 was issued by President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1948 and ordered the desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces. The order established the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, which was responsible for ensuring that all members…