By Randi Locke, Northend Agent’s
This month, the Trump Administration continued its pattern of undoing history by issuing a memo by the General Services Administration. The memo stated that the General Services Administration banned clause 52.222-21 that outlawed perpetrating and using segregated facilities. Though by doing this, it does not make segregation legal, it does allow contractors to provide and uphold segregated facilities like restaurants, housing facilities, work spaces, and bathrooms. According to the General Services Administration, banning this clause is in line with Trump’s executive order released on January 21st that called to end what they believe is illegal discrimination. Claiming that they want to restore “Merit-Based opportunity”. There have been many mixed responses to this. The ones that stood out to me are the people who are making light of this. Cracking jokes and saying that this will not impact them at all. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are reasons integration helped change many lives for the better and this new clause can make this already dangerous country even worse.
Before we get into the impact of this memo, let us get into why the clause was created in the first place. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbade discrimination in public places. This Act was first proposed by President John F Kennedy in 1963 after he implored the nation to treat all people equally on national television. After Kennedy’s assassination, the Act was signed by President Johnson in 1964. The Act contained eleven titles. The first title forbade discriminatory voting practices. This outlawed practices like the grandfather clause, literacy tests, and poll taxes. The second title prohibits discrimination against customers and employees in commercial businesses. The third title integrated public facilities like libraries and parks. The fourth forbade employment discrimination based on race, religion, gender, and, as of 2020, sexual orientation. The fifth title declared that the Secretary of Commerce will regularly conduct surveys on voting and registration statistics to observe the data of those of different races and ethnicities.
The sixth title allows for a higher court to review decisions made by a lower court in regards to state prosecutions that infringe on protected rights. This also allows for the attorney general to intervene in cases that individuals believe violate the equal protection clause. The seventh title formed the Community Relations Service to help communities solve disputes regarding discrimination against race, gender, and sexuality. The eight title led to the desegregation of public schools and colleges. The ninth title increased the responsibilities of the United States Civil Rights Commission. The United States Civil Rights Commission was formed under the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The title addressed the commission’s funding and matters like hearings and subpoenas. The tenth title addressed discrimination in federally funded programs. Stating that people can not be barred from participating in federally funded programs based on race and nationality. The last title addressed the interactions between state and local antidiscrimination laws. This Act led to the Executive order signed by President Johnson in 1965 that required contractors to uphold anti-discriminatory practices in the workplace. Clause 52.222-21 was put into action in 1983. For years, these acts have protected people from experiencing discrimination. Now that could all change.
Though the administration states that segregation will not be tolerated, repealing the clause puts the Civil Rights Act in danger. By eliminating the clause, this not only puts workers in danger, but it also begins to encourage the public to turn a blind eye to segregation. One of the stipulations of the clause was that contractors’ employees were forbidden from working in places that upheld segregation. By removing this clause, it is not only stating that contractors can uphold segregation, but it can also lead to employees losing their jobs or engaging in racist, sexist, and homophobic practices. Considering that Trump’s executive order has already led to many companies and Colleges eliminating programs that encouraged diversity and inclusion, this could.. No, not could, does go beyond businesses. Part of the clause forbade housing discrimination.
Since February, Trump’s administration has begun to eliminate grants and funding for organizations that uphold fair housing practices. According to the National Fair Housing Organization, 33,007 fair housing complaints were launched in 2022. Over half of these cases were taken care of by non-profit organizations. These organizations were able to receive grants from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. Because grants and funding are being eliminated, the majority of these cases will go unresolved. Since clause 52.222-21 has been removed, some cases could never be heard in court. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning, with the 1964 Civil Rights Act also including laws protecting from discrimination in public spaces, and federally funded programs, Trump is eliminating the clause is allowing lawmakers the ability to call the Act into question. Potentially unraveling the work that so many have died for.
Although things look bleak, we mustn’t give up. Whether it is supporting local grassroots organizations, donating, or protesting. Just because this administration is trying to undo history does not mean we should let them win.
