Black Freedom Struggle in the United States:

Civil Rights Bills

Congressional Hearings: Continuation of hearings before the Subcom No. 5 to review civil rights protection and enforcement issues and related proposals, including education and employment discrimination issues, and to examine laws and actions of certain States impacting civil rights. NAACP called as witness., 1958

Hearing on Impediments to Voter Enfranchisement

Congressional Hearings: Hearing in Philadelphia, Pa., to examine impediments to voter participation, focusing on problems associated with voter registration and election procedures. NAACP called as witness., 2007

Document 158: February 11, 1937 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Progress in formulating an antilynching bill that will meet constitutional tests and transmits a Justice Department memorandum assessing the NAACP proposed antilynching bill, reviewing distinctions between the present bill and previous antilynching bills, and examining the constitutional basis for the statute, with a review of relevant case law, 1937

Document 119: March 16, 1936 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Acknowledgment of letter concerning presidential support for the Costigan-Wagner Bill, the president’s desire to focus Congress on other legislation, and the assurance that the president is still in support of antilynching efforts, 1936

Document 28: April 20, 1934 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: The progress of the Costigan-Wagner antilynching bill, impediments to passage of bill from southern politicians, necessity for Congress to remain in session to review and approve the bill, and the possible lynching backlash if the bill does not pass, 1934

Document 78: December 19, 1934 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Request for suitable date for delegation to meet with president in Washington, D.C., to discuss Wagner- Costigan antilynching bill and to present him with a memorial urging federal action against lynching, 1934

Document 126: January 2, 1936 Memorandum with attachments

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Provides statement on issues of concern to African Americans, including lynching problem; discrimination in relief and public works, the postal service, and civil service; white-only primaries; and discrimination in the army and navy, 1936

Document 219: February 18, 1938 Letter with attachment

Documents from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Library: Comments on and arguments in favor of NAACP proposal to permit Senator Robert Wagner to suspend debate on the antilynching bill and to set a day certain to resume debate on the bill in April, in light of the bill’s filibuster and danger that the bill would be dead if displaced as unfinished business, 1938

Equal Employment Opportunity

Congressional Hearing: Considers legislation to prohibit discrimination in employment. Focuses on discrimination in employment opportunities in D.C. Apr. 22 hearing was held at Fairleigh-Dickinson University. Includes “Employment in Washington, D.C.,” report by the D.C. Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (June 1963, p. 355-421). NAACP called as witness., 1963

Equal Employment Opportunity

Congressional Hearing: Considers S. 1308 and similar S. 1667, to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. NAACP called as witness., 1967

Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987

Congressional Hearing: Hearings to consider S. 557, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, to amend the Education Amendments of 1972 and three other acts to clarify congressional intent regarding the scope and coverage of prohibitions against race, sex, handicap, and age discrimination by providing that programs and entities receiving direct or indirect Federal assistance are subject to civil rights laws on an institution-wide rather than a program-specific basis. Bill responds to Feb. 1984 Supreme Court decision in Grove City College v. Bell, holding Grove City College a recipient of Federal assistance on the basis of financial aid student enrollments, but limiting the applicability of Education Amendments of 1972 Title IX sex nondiscrimination provisions to the financial aid program., 1987

Equal Employment Opportunities Enforcement Act

Hearings before the Subcommittee on Labor on: S. 2453, the Equal Employment Opportunities Enforcement Act, to allow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to issue judicially enforceable cease and desist orders upon complaint of discriminatory practices (text, p. 1-27); and S. 2806, the Administration proposal, to give EEOC the right to sue through familiar court procedures (text, p. 28-32). NAACP called as a witness., 1969

Equal Employment Opportunities Enforcement Act

Congressional Hearing: Considers S. 2453, to grant added decisionmaking and enforcement authority to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Focuses on viewpoints of various minority groups. NAACP called as witness., 1969

Civil Rights

Senate hearing on civil rights. NAACP called as witness., 1949