The following are documents which have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These documents are a starting point for additional research and discussions that help further our understanding of the history of people of African ancestry in the United States.
CHAPTER 121 An act to add Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 1410) to Division 2 of, and to amend Section 56 of, the Labor Code, relating to prevention and elimination of practices of discrimination in employment and otherwise against persons because of race, religious creed, … Read More(1959) California Fair Employment Practices Act
Preamble Be It Resolved, That the Negro people of the world, through their chosen representatives in convention assembled in Liberty Hall, in the City of New York and United States of America, from August 1 to August 31, in the year of Our Lord one … Read More(1920) Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World
We are a collective of Black feminists who have been meeting together since 1974. [1] During that time we have been involved in the process of defining and clarifying our politics, while at the same time doing political work within our own group and in … Read More(1977) The Combahee River Collective Statement
Title A Constitutional amendment to prohibit the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education or public contracting; to apply the amendment only to … Read More(2008) Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative 424
No. 85-999 Argued: November 12, 1986 — Decided: February 25, 1987 JUSTICE BRENNAN announced the judgment of the Court and delivered an opinion in which JUSTICE MARSHALL, JUSTICE BLACKMUN, and JUSTICE POWELL join. The question we must decide is whether relief awarded in this case, … Read More(1987) United States v. Paradise
WHEREAS discrimination because of race, creed, color, or national origin is contrary to the Constitutional principles and policies of the United States; and 13 CFR 1960 Supp. WHEREAS it is the plain and positive obligation of the United States Government to promote and ensure equal … Read More(1961) Executive Order 10925
No. 02-241. Argued April 1, 2003–Decided June 23, 2003 The University of Michigan Law School (Law School), one of the Nation’s top law schools, follows an official admissions policy that seeks to achieve student body diversity through compliance with Regents of Univ. of Cal. v. … Read More(2003) Grutter v. Bollinger et al
No. 02-516. Argued April 1, 2003–Decided June 23, 2003 Petitioners Gratz and Hamacher, both of whom are Michigan residents and Caucasian, applied for admission to the University of Michigan’s (University) College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Although the … Read More(2003) Gratz et al v. Bollinger et al
No. 93-1841. Argued January 17, 1995 Decided June 12, 1995 Most federal agency contracts must contain a subcontractor compensation clause, which gives a prime contractor a financial incentive to hire subcontractors certified as small businesses controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and requires the … Read More(1995) Adarand Constructors, Inc., v. Pena
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 87-998. Argued October 5, 1988 Decided January 23, 1989 Appellant city adopted a Minority Business Utilization Plan (Plan) requiring prime contractors awarded city construction contracts to subcontract at least 30% of the … Read More(1989) City of Richmond v. Croson Co.