Civil Rights Act of 1964: Historical Significance, Impact, and Legacy
International Hybrid Conference
24-25 February 2024
University of Delft, The Netherlands

(In-Person/Physical Presence and Online Presentation sessions: 2 days)
(Virtual platform for pre-recorded presentations: 5 days)


Thematic Approach

GIRES, the Global Institute for Research Education & Scholarship aims to explore the historical significance, impact, and legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of its enduring importance in shaping a more equitable society.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 stands as a monumental landmark in American history, representing a turning point in the struggle for racial equality and social justice. This proposed conference aims to delve deep into the historical significance, far-reaching impact, and lasting legacy of this pivotal legislation.

The conference aims to reflect upon the Historical Context and Significance by understanding the historical context that led to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 connected to the decades-long struggle for civil rights, including pivotal events such as the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the March on Washington. Also we hope to explore the Legal and Social Impact by focusing on the immediate and long-term legal and social impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 along with the Continuing Struggle by highlighting how the legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has influenced subsequent movements for social justice and civil rights along with the ongoing challenges related to systemic racism in the United States. Furthermore, we wish to focus on the Global Impact and Inspiration and broaden the scope by exploring how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has influenced international human rights movements and inspired efforts for equality around the world, fostering a cross-cultural dialogue on shared challenges and strategies. Lastly, we hope to address the ways of Commemoration and Education and explore how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is commemorated and taught today by presenting the role of museums, educational institutions, and public memorials in preserving the history and lessons of the civil rights movement along with strategies for effectively educating current and future generations about the Act’s significance.

GIRES, dedicated to interdisciplinarity, invites a diverse range of participants, including academics, researchers, policymakers, graduate students, and representatives from non-governmental organizations and think-tanks working in related fields to contribute to the discussion and to debate these issues and provide a comprehensive exploration of how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 continues to shape the United States and the world.

Proposed Topics

-The Long Road to Equality: Historical Overview of Racial Discrimination and Segregation
-Brown v. Board of Education: Legal Landmark and Catalyst for Change
-Grassroots Activism and Civil Disobedience: Montgomery Bus Boycott and Sit-ins
-The Freedom Summer and Voter Registration: Expanding Political Participation
-Impact on Education: Desegregation of Schools and Equal Educational Opportunities
-Economic Empowerment: Advancements in Employment and Entrepreneurship
-Breaking Gender Barriers: Examining the Impact of Title IX on Women’s Rights
-The Role of Federal Agencies: The EEOC and OCR in Enforcing the Act
-Continuing Challenges: Discrimination, Segregation, and “Massive Resistance”
-Landmark Cases: Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, Loving v. Virginia, and more
-From Civil Rights to Human Rights: Influence on International Movements
-Black Power Movement and Beyond: Critiques, Expansions, and Intersectionality
-LGBTQ+ Rights Movement: Lessons Learned from the Civil Rights Struggle
-Museums and Memorials: Preserving the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement
-Teaching Civil Rights: Incorporating the Act into Education Curricula
-Contemporary Relevance: Addressing Ongoing Racial Disparities and Social Justice Struggles
-Lessons from Abroad: Comparative Analysis of Civil Rights Movements
-Transnational Solidarity: The Impact of the Civil Rights Act on Anti-Colonial Struggles
-International Human Rights Frameworks: Linking the Civil Rights Act to Global Agendas

Proposed Formats (Lingua franca: English)
-Individual papers (GIRES will included it in a panel)
-Panels (up to 4 presentations-chaired by one of the presenters or appointed by GIRES)
-Roundtable presentations (chaired by one of the presenters or appointed by GIRES)
-Poster presentations
-Student presentations (one paper presented by up to 3 young scholars)
-Keynote speech (depending on the time availability)
-Pre-recorder presentation (s) (Asynchronous Platform)
-Pre-recorder presentation (s) (Synchronous-live- Sessions: live participation of presenter (s) during the Q&A sessions)

Publication Opportunity
The Organizing Committee and GIRES Press will publish the most powerful and dynamic presentations of the conference and include them
in a collective volume in the form of short articles and/or long essays. For more information please contact us

Physical Presence/In-person sessions
All participant who will attend the conference physically will have the option to have their presentations recorded.The recordings will be uploaded to GIRES media for unlimited access and dissemination.

Live Sessions Recording
All participants have the option to have their presentations recorded (during live sessions) in HD quality. The recordings will be uploaded to GIRES media for unlimited access and dissemination.

Asynchronous Options
All participants have the option to have their presentations (video/audio/text) uploaded to our Virtual Platform. All registered participants will have access to the material for 5 days.

Our proposed topics & formats are not restrictive and we invite additional germane ideas

This is a Hybrid Conference with in-person presentations in The Netherlands and online presentations that will co-exist in the program.

For more information, submissions and registration options please visit:https://www.gires.org/activities/conferences/civil-rights-act-of-1964-historical-significance-impact-and-legacy/