About Project 60/50
A nation that undergoes change can be volatile. In the United States today, society is much different than it was 60 and even 50 years ago. The difference is, in large part, due to a Supreme Court decision handed down in 1954 making it illegal to segregate public schools based on a person's race. Ten years later, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed major forms of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, and religion. The CRA of 1964 ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in the workplace, and by facilities that provided public accommodations. Combined, these two major events rocked the nation, upsetting its foundation as people of all races were forced to adjust to a different way of living. Conversations among people from different races and cultural backgrounds was then and continues to be difficult when the topic is about civil and human rights issues.
As we take time to reflect on the past and fast forward to 2014, these two anniversaries in the history of the civil rights struggle in the United States offers everyone the opportunity to continue having conversations with each other, but with the benefit of a more educated and globally diverse population.
In recognition of these anniversaries, Michigan State University has chosen to spearhead a year-long community conversation on civil and human rights through a bold and unique initiative called Project 60/50.
