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50 Years Ago Today, The Civil Rights Act Was Signed Into Law

White House Photo Office/LBJ Library
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act as Martin Luther King, Jr., and others looked on.

Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. NPR has produced anin-depth online report about the act and what it means to the country.

From NPR:

Since then, the country’s demographics have shifted, and the conversations about race and culture have continued. In this project, journalists, lawyers and civil rights activists explore the historic legislation— pulling the language out of history and telling us how it’s relevant today.

"The Voices of Freedom Summer"

Throughout June, KERA News featured North Texans who reflected on the Civil Rights Act and Freedom Summer, an effort 50 years ago to get blacks registered to vote in Mississippi. “It’s painful because I have some friends in the graveyard for the right to vote,” Rev. Peter Johnson of Dallas told KERA.

Explore the KERA series here.

"Freedom Summer"

Last month, KERA aired the documentary “Freedom Summer.” Watch it below.

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.