We can't fully comprehend the importance of Fair Housing without understanding its historical context

The Fair Housing Act of 1968, also known as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, was a significant milestone in the fight against housing discrimination.

The journey to pass this legislation was not an easy one. Congress had been considering a fair housing bill from 1966-1967 but struggled to gather enough support for its passage. However, the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968, became a turning point. President Lyndon Johnson used this national tragedy to rally for the bill's swift approval by Congress. President Johnson saw it as a fitting tribute to Dr. King's life work and wanted it to be passed before his funeral in Atlanta.

During this time, another pressing issue was the discrimination faced by young, poor African-American and Hispanic infantrymen returning from the Vietnam War. They were unable to purchase or rent homes in certain residential developments due to their race or national origin. Organizations like the NAACP, NAREB, the GI Forum, and the National Committee Against Discrimination In Housing tirelessly lobbied for the Senate to pass the Fair Housing Act and address this inequality. Senators Edward Brooke and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts played crucial roles in advocating for this legislation.

Following Dr. King's assassination and the ensuing riots and destruction throughout the country, President Johnson's words resonated with Congress, and the Fair Housing Act was passed by the House of Representatives without debate. The Senate followed suit, and President Johnson signed the Act into law.

The responsibility of implementing the Act fell to President Richard Nixon, who appointed George Romney, the Governor of Michigan, as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Secretary Romney had previously campaigned for a state constitutional provision in Michigan that banned housing discrimination. Samuel Simmons was appointed as the first Assistant Secretary for Equal Housing Opportunity.

In April 1969, HUD (Housing and Urban Development) celebrated the Act's 1st Anniversary. HUD established a complaint process and published the Title VIII Field Operations Handbook within its inaugural year. To commemorate the occasion, a grand gala event was hosted in the Grand Ballroom of New York's Plaza Hotel, attended by advocates, politicians, and the National Committee Against Discrimination In Housing, one of the organizations instrumental in the Act's passage.

In the years that followed, the tradition of celebrating Fair Housing Month grew. Governors began issuing proclamations designating April as "Fair Housing Month," and educational institutions held poster and essay contests focusing on fair housing issues. Regional winners of these contests had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC for events with HUD and their Congressional representatives.

Under Secretaries James T. Lynn and Carla Hills, in collaboration with the National Association of Homebuilders, National Association of Realtors, and the American Advertising Council, fair housing became a central theme. These groups provided billboard space across the nation to highlight the fair housing message. Regional celebrations, meetings, dinners, contests, and radio-television shows featuring HUD and fair housing experts were organized in various parts of the country.

These ongoing celebrations reflect the spirit of the Act's original passage and are cherished by those who witnessed its inception. Understanding the history of Fair Housing emphasizes its significance and reminds us of the ongoing fight against housing discrimination.

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