Restoring the Conscience of a Nation: A Report on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Established in 1957, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission has played a crucial role in securing and protecting the civil rights of the American citizens who had been historically disenfranchised and segregated from mainstream society. But since the 1980s, the commission has been debilitated by efforts to weaken and undermine its integrity and independence.
With a new administration, there is an opportunity to take a fresh look at this venerable institution and make the necessary changes to restore it to its former status as the "conscience of the nation."
The following report chronicles the history of and the need for the commission over the years, as well as offering recommendations on how return the commission to its original mandate and expand on it to preserve and protect the civil and human rights of all Americans.
Report Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
I. Creating the Commission
II. The Commission’s Early Years
III. The 60s: Laying the Foundation for Legislation
IV. The 70s: School Desegregation and an Expanded Mandate
V. The 80s: Dismantling the Commission
VI. The 90s: The Commission Devolves
VII. The Post-Millennial Commission
Conclusion
Recommendations
Acknowledgements
Printable Version
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Additional Resources
Video: Restoring the Conscience of a Nation - Wade Henderson, president and CEO of LCCR; John Payton, director-counsel of the NAACP LDF; Catherine Powell, professor of law at Fordham University; and Julie Fernandes, principal at the Raben Group, talk about the role the commission has played in advancing civil rights over the last 50 years and explain why they've decided to provide Congress with recommendations for improving the commission.
