the Civil Rights Act of 1964
/ðə ˌsɪvl ˌraɪts ækt əv ˌnaɪntiːn sɪksti ˈfɔː(r)/
/ðə ˌsɪvl ˌraɪts ækt əv ˌnaɪntiːn sɪksti ˈfɔːr/
- the US law that forced the southern states to allow African Americans to enter restaurants, hotels, etc. which had been reserved for white people only, and to end the practice of having separate areas for black and white people in theatres, train stations, buses, etc. The act was mostly the result of the civil rights movement and was strongly supported by President Lyndon Johnson. It was followed the next year by the Voting Rights Act.