The Civil Rights Act of 1964 "Ending Segregation"

Fast forward to the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a massive piece of legislation signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. While this Act is famous for ending segregation in schools and workplaces, as real estate agents, you need to know how it affects Public Accommodations. For real estate professionals, the critical takeaway is Title II of the Act. Under this law, a public accommodation is practically any place that is open to the general public for business, entertainment, or travel: Hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations, and places of entertainment (movie theaters, stadiums). The Act made it a federal crime to discriminate against or segregate people in these places based on four specific grounds: Race, Color, Religion, National Origin. While you mostly deal with private homes (which are covered by the 1968 Act we will discuss next), you need to know this distinction:1964 Act: Ends discrimination in commercial spaces (hotels/restaurants).1968 Act: Ends discrimination in housing (selling/renting homes).So, if you are listing a commercial property—like a motel or a diner—you must understand that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 strictly prohibits the owner from refusing service to anyone based on those protected classes. Segregation is illegal in any facility that serves the public.