CBS News asked noted figures in the arts, business and politics about their experience in today’s civil rights movement, or about figures who inspired them in their activism.
Herman Cain, businessman, former Republican presidential candidate
Is there something that you’d like to share about your personal connection to civil rights issues?
It took more than 200 years for this nation to add a punctuation to the civil rights inherent in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.” This would normally imply all rights, all access, and all opportunities, but for too long, too many men did not embrace the full meaning of that ideal.
Throughout the history of this country many people looked for loopholes in the ideal and the laws according to the Constitution, because their hearts were not ready to do what their minds knew was right. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 closed all remaining loopholes, and opportunities for all were undeniable.
The CRA did not change hearts. This did not mean it would be easy for everyone and all institutions to embrace the full meaning of the law…
