Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

Essay by sherlonUniversity, Bachelor'sA, January 2007

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Introduction

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act plays an essential role in defining the employment practices found in today's work environment. The law passed in 1964 prohibits employment discrimination and since its initiation, Title VII has sparked an increase in anti-discrimination laws designed to "promote fairness, equality, and opportunity within the workplace" (Bennett-Alexander et. al, 2003).

The evolution of Title VII

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed after the milestone March in Washington. In the largest march ever held in the United States, people of all races and colors gathered together to show legislature that racism would no longer be acceptable in society. Title VII, the section that deals with discrimination in the workforce is one small part of the larger piece of legislation. Title VII, of the Civil Rights Act, quickly became the most important arbiter of rights under the new law (Bennett-Alexander et al 2003).

Title VII states that it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee from being hired based on the individual's "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin" (Bennett-Alexander et al 2003). Even though this law covers the typical discriminatory aspects, it was the racial discrimination that was the spear head for Title VII. Beginning from African Americans being recognized as just slaves or an owner's property, our country strived to create new relations with the African American community. However, there were laws that regulated blacks and whites being separated in every component of daily living. The workforce has drastically changed since the passage of the act. Women and minorities are engaged in employment now more than ever. With the passage of Title VII, the door was opened to prohibiting job discrimination and creating fairness in employment (Bennett-Alexander et al, 2003). Soon after, protection against discrimination based on...