On This Day: Civil Rights Act of 1964 Signed Into Law

Blogger: Amber Lemus

On this day, July 2, 1964, a very important change came to the United States of America. The Civil Rights Act was signed by President Johnson, which made segregation illegal and went a long way in promoting equality over racism in the workplace and public spaces.

Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Public Domain

But did you know this wasn't the first effort to legislate Civil Rights? The 1964 law was actually the culmination of years of activism and protest by civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., who had advocated for an end to segregation and discrimination since the emancipation proclamation.

The first civil rights law in the United States was the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was enacted on April 9. This pivotal legislation was the first to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. Since this was the first law to be passed in the aftermath of the Civil War, it was primarily aimed at protecting the civil rights of persons of African descent born in or brought to the United States. Congress passed the law twice; however it was vetoed twice by President Andrew Johnson. Congress then voted to override his veto, which made it the first major law to be passed without Presidential signature.

While the 1866 law granted all citizens, regardless of color or previous enslavement, the right to make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, give evidence in court, and inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property, many argued that Congress didn't yet have the authority to enforce such a law on individual states. It wasn't until the passage of the 14th amendment two years later, which officially gave Congress the power to prevent discrimination by states and bestow certain protections equally under the law. Still, this first legislation fell short. Efficacy of the law was continually undermined by the activities of groups such as the KKK, and while it was "technically" illegal to discriminate for housing and employment based on race, the law failed to provide federal penalties for doing so, which basically meant it was left up to individuals or states where people who couldn't afford or acquire legal representation suffered.

President Grant Portrait 1875
Public Domain

In 1871, President Ulysses S. Grant requested legislation prohibiting race-based violence against African Americans. It was passed within a month of his request and is also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act. President Grant utilized the authority granted to him under this law many times during his presidency, and as a result he successfully disbanded the Ku Klux Klan, or at least the first era of it.

In 1875, Congress took yet another step toward racial equality and added legislation prohibiting discrimination in "public accommodations and transportation", and also stating that no one could be excluded from jury service because of race. It was also signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant but this was later overturned by the Supreme Court in 1883 who ruled it as unconstitutional, stating Congress could not regulate conduct of individuals. It would be a hundred and thirty years before the repeal of this law was rectified.

Amos T. Akerman, appointed Attorney General by Grant,

who vigorously prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan

Public Domain

From 1875 until 1957, no more Civil Rights laws were passed. Our African American population suffered with few laws to protect them from mistreatment, and authorities who hesitated to enforce the laws that were on the books. Activists and protests increased until what is known as the "Civil Rights Movement" was born.

The Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960, although limited, marked the first attempts since Reconstruction to deal with civil rights. The 1957 Act established a Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department and a Commission on Civil Rights to investigate discriminatory conditions. The 1960 Act provided for federal voting referees to assist in voter registration. These acts laid the groundwork for the comprehensive 1964 Act, which would decisively outlaw segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

President Kennedy Addressing the Nation regarding Civil Rights
Public Domain

The passage of the act was a battle. It was introduced by President Kennedy in 1963, but met with fierce opposition from some lawmakers, who argued that it was an overreach of federal power. They stifled the bill within committees, and proponents of the bill struggled to get it brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Even when they did, it was killed by a filibuster more than once. After the assassination of President Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson pushed the bill forward and was finally the one to sign it into law.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major milestone in the struggle for equality and justice in the United States. It paved the way for further legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and continues to be an important tool for combating discrimination and promoting equality today.

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Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Doctor Charles R. Drew, Inventor of the Blood Bank

Blogger: Amber Lemus

By Associated Photographic Services, Inc
- National Library of Medicine

Continuing our series on lesser-known inventors, today we learn about Dr. Charles R. Drew, the American surgeon who pioneered the techniques for blood storage, which is why he is known as the "Father of the Blood Bank."


Charles Drew was born June 3, 1904 in Washington D.C. He was the son of a carpet layer and a teacher, the oldest of four children. They grew up in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood and from a young age, Drew began working as a newspaper delivery boy.

Charles was able to attend Dunbar High School, which was an advantage for him because the school was known for its equality and opportunities for all students, regardless of the racial issues of the time. Although he still experienced hostility from opposing teams, and was passed over for the position of Captain of the team, even though he was the best player. After high school, Drew won an athletics scholarship, but a biology professor ignited his interest in medical science. Further education would be expensive, so Charles became a biology and chemistry professor to earn money to pursue his next goal, medical school. He also served as an athletics coach.

Charles's High School Yearbook Entry
Public Domain

When he was ready to pursue his medical career, circumstances led Charles to McGill's medical school in Montreal, Canada. He excelled in his class, winning multiple honors and scholarships. It was here that he met Dr. John Beattie, a doctor at Montreal Hospital who was studying the correlations between shock therapy and blood transfusions. Charles interned with Doctor Beattie while earning his surgical residency at the hospital.

Still, Charles career path was fraught with difficulty and racial discrimination. He intended to further his research on blood transfusions at Mayo Clinic, but was barred from going so because their practices didn't allow black scholars. So instead, he went to Columbia University, where he won a fellowship to train with eminent surgeon, Allen Whipple. However, he was still assigned to a non-traditional path which deprived him of some of the assets afforded to his white peers, such as direct access to patients. He was, however, able to continue his study of blood storage and transfusions. He eventually managed to prove himself and his intellect, and his superiors began to respect his brilliance.


In 1940, Charles wrote a doctoral thesis on "Banked Blood: A Study on Blood Preservation". It was through this research that Charles discovered that blood could be preserved two months longer by de-liquefying it. This paper earned him the honor of becoming the first African American to earn the Doctor of Science in Medicines degree at Columbia University.

Illustration of Charles Drew from the National Archives
Public Domain

This quote from the American Chemical Society article explains how important this breakthrough was.

"Dr. Charles Richard Drew broke barriers in a racially divided America to become one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. His pioneering research and systematic developments in the use and preservation of blood plasma during World War II not only saved thousands of lives, but innovated the nation’s blood banking process and standardized procedures for long-term blood preservation and storage techniques adapted by the American Red Cross." ~ACS biography of Charles R. Drew

In February of 1941, Charles was appointed as Director of the first American Red Cross blood bank. He also invented mobile blood donation centers, which greatly increased prospective blood donation. However, this appointment was short lived. The two greatest buyers of the blood were the US Navy and US Army, who refused African-American blood. They later decided to accept it, but only if it was stored separately from blood from white donors. Charles objected to this exclusion, stating that it had absolutely no scientific foundation. He resigned his post in 1942 in protest.

“While one must grant at once that extraordinary talent, great intellectual strength and unusual opportunity are necessary to break out of this prison of the Negro problem, we believe that the Negro in the field of physical sciences has not only opened a small passageway to the outside world, but is carving a road in many untrod areas, along which later generations will find it more easy to travel. The breaching of these walls and the laying of this road has not been, and is not easy.” — Charles Drew

Charles stated that his greatest mission in life, and what he considered to be his greatest accomplishment, was training young African-American surgeons who would meet the most rigorous standards in any surgical field, and in turn place them in strategic positions throughout the country where they could nurture the tradition of excellence.


Charles career was full of honors both in academics and research. He was granted the Springard Medal by the NAACP for his work on British-American projects in 1944. He also received honorary doctorate degrees in the sciences from Virginia State College in 1945, followed by Amherst in 1947. However he died without being accepted as a member of the American Medical Association, since African-American physicians were still excluded.

Doctor Charles Drew was still campaigning against such exclusions when he tragically died in 1950 after sustaining fatal injuries in a car accident. He was only 46 years old, but he left a life-saving legacy behind.

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Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!