No. It caused the south and midwest white majority to switch from being Democrats (the Democrats voted it the Civil Rights Act in) to being Republicans and they have remained so ever since.
Well, the Democratic Party (which passed the Civil Rights Act) has not won a majority of white voters in any Presidential election since 1964…so it seems that no, it was not popular.
President Johnson, after signing it, supposedly said to one of the young aids nearby: “By signing this the Democrats have just lost the south for the rest of my lifetime, and possibly the rest of yours”.
This is what caused the US South to go red, and what made the Republicans the preferred party of racists. Prior to that, the Democrats were by far the most popular party in the South due to historic “Dixie-crat” practices, and were the preferred party of the KKK and white supremecists (after all, Lincoln the Republican is the one who freed the slaves, so southern racists very much hated the Republicans as a result of that).
The fact that racists were willing to join the party if Lincoln in response should demonstrate just how big a deal the Civil Rights Act was…and the fact that the Dems have yet to win the majority of white people in a Presidential election since should demonstrate just how widespread and baked in racism and white supremacy still are (even in people who don’t obviously display it).
I was 13 years old at the time and my Father screamed at the TV. Unfortunately, I took up his thoughts until I was 18 and realized my dad was not an idiot, he grew up that way, I was the idiot for following
It was actually a bipartisan success. JFK (dem) was a big proponent before he was assassinated. Then the Democrats (who had the senate majority) worked with the Republicans to overcome the Southern Democrats who opposed it. With the Northern Democrats and Republicans working together it reached the 2/3 majority needed.
It was the right thing to do. I grew up in NorCal, and the only thing I remember was what I saw on TV….and I was shocked. I was 11 at the time and saw very little discrimination. When the Civil Rights Act was passed is when I started to see problems with the way people reacted. The Black Panther Party and Black Muslims and Muhammad Ali educated me.
Overall, yes; after all, White Americans primarily elected by other White Americans were the ones who passed it. America was 80% White people at the time.
In South, it was viewed overwhelmingly negatively and was, correctly, seen as top-down imposition by the federal government. And caused a lot of hard feelings of Southern Whites against Democratic party. Feelings that still exist today.
Fun fact: A larger percentage of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than Democrats did. Anyone trying to say a bunch of white guys mad at their party for voting for it, and then decided to jump ship to the party that actually voted more for it, is ridiculous. The same leadership that had been perpetuating the legacy of slavery, was still the same leadership for the Democrat party after the Civil Rights Act passed.
It was a win for white Americans who also fought for equality and Republicans in Congress. It was JFK’s vision in which LBJ pushed through resulting on career suicide
Southerners despised it to include southern Democrats.
It’s worthy to note that this Act was a reason used by Nixon to utilize the Southern Strategy to bring over a vast majority of pissed of southerners to the Republican Party which included Southern Democrats. It’s why almost all southern states are ran by Republicans.
Comments
I wish I could say yes
Racist people protested very hard against it
History says no. There were protests and violence across the country in opposition to it.
It wasn’t popular among Democrats at the time
No. It caused the south and midwest white majority to switch from being Democrats (the Democrats voted it the Civil Rights Act in) to being Republicans and they have remained so ever since.
That’s why the south turned Republican.
I remember being very confused at the time. I didn’t understand why they would pass a law like that
Though of course, I was ten at the time
NO. Only accepted reluctantly.
White people are generally pretty racist – especially in the evangelical communities. See eg 2024 election.
Well, the Democratic Party (which passed the Civil Rights Act) has not won a majority of white voters in any Presidential election since 1964…so it seems that no, it was not popular.
President Johnson, after signing it, supposedly said to one of the young aids nearby: “By signing this the Democrats have just lost the south for the rest of my lifetime, and possibly the rest of yours”.
This is what caused the US South to go red, and what made the Republicans the preferred party of racists. Prior to that, the Democrats were by far the most popular party in the South due to historic “Dixie-crat” practices, and were the preferred party of the KKK and white supremecists (after all, Lincoln the Republican is the one who freed the slaves, so southern racists very much hated the Republicans as a result of that).
The fact that racists were willing to join the party if Lincoln in response should demonstrate just how big a deal the Civil Rights Act was…and the fact that the Dems have yet to win the majority of white people in a Presidential election since should demonstrate just how widespread and baked in racism and white supremacy still are (even in people who don’t obviously display it).
I was 13 years old at the time and my Father screamed at the TV. Unfortunately, I took up his thoughts until I was 18 and realized my dad was not an idiot, he grew up that way, I was the idiot for following
It was actually a bipartisan success. JFK (dem) was a big proponent before he was assassinated. Then the Democrats (who had the senate majority) worked with the Republicans to overcome the Southern Democrats who opposed it. With the Northern Democrats and Republicans working together it reached the 2/3 majority needed.
https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/CivilRightsAct1964.htm
It was the right thing to do. I grew up in NorCal, and the only thing I remember was what I saw on TV….and I was shocked. I was 11 at the time and saw very little discrimination. When the Civil Rights Act was passed is when I started to see problems with the way people reacted. The Black Panther Party and Black Muslims and Muhammad Ali educated me.
Half and half it seemed
Overall, yes; after all, White Americans primarily elected by other White Americans were the ones who passed it. America was 80% White people at the time.
It was very polarizing among White Americans.
In South, it was viewed overwhelmingly negatively and was, correctly, seen as top-down imposition by the federal government. And caused a lot of hard feelings of Southern Whites against Democratic party. Feelings that still exist today.
Fuck no, lol! They hated it with a passion the still burns today.
Fun fact: A larger percentage of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than Democrats did. Anyone trying to say a bunch of white guys mad at their party for voting for it, and then decided to jump ship to the party that actually voted more for it, is ridiculous. The same leadership that had been perpetuating the legacy of slavery, was still the same leadership for the Democrat party after the Civil Rights Act passed.
It wasn’t popular amongst bigots.
Yes and No.
It was a win for white Americans who also fought for equality and Republicans in Congress. It was JFK’s vision in which LBJ pushed through resulting on career suicide
Southerners despised it to include southern Democrats.
It’s worthy to note that this Act was a reason used by Nixon to utilize the Southern Strategy to bring over a vast majority of pissed of southerners to the Republican Party which included Southern Democrats. It’s why almost all southern states are ran by Republicans.