Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is and was the most groundbreaking and difficult legislation ever passed. I will detail how Title VII evolved, its impact and who is covered and is not covered under this historic act. I will also give some examples of certain policies companies should avoid in the workplace to avoid Title VII violations. .
Although Title VII passed in 1964 there were challenges to this racially divided country ten years prior with the defeat of the separate but equal educational facilities doctrine in 1954. The US Supreme Court's decision in the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education paved the way for citizens to challenge the infringement of rights on the black citizens of this country. During this time there were sit ins, freedom rides and demonstrations for the right to nonsegregated public accommodations, transportation, municipal parks and many other public places that kept the black minority out. In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., marched on Washington D.C., along with hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and color and gave his "I have a dream" speech. With this solidarity from around the world, it showed the legislators that legalized racism was not going to be tolerated any longer. (Bennett-Alexander, Hartman pg.64) .
Although Title VII is a small portion of the Civil Rights Act, it has great significance because it is the employment section of this Act. The impact of Title VII on the workplace is still being measured to this day. Since its passing, the workplace has .
made dramatic changes. Because Title VII applies equally to everyone, it gave new rights to women and minorities who, prior to its passing, had little or no recourse for workplace discrimination. What Title VII did was to open the door in preventing job discrimination and created the expectations of fairness from the employer. (pg.69) .
Since its passing in 1964 there have been many amendments added to Title VII.