Kerner Commission

Kerner Commission
Trikosko, Marion S., photographer · Public domain · source
Name	Kerner Commission
Formation	1967
Founder	Lyndon B. Johnson
Purpose	Investigate the causes of the 1967 urban riots
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Key people	Otto Kerner Jr., Fred R. Harris

Kerner Commission

The Kerner Commission, officially known as the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, was a federal commission established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 to investigate the causes of the 1967 urban riots and provide recommendations to prevent future civil unrest. The commission's report, released in 1968, highlighted the deep-seated social and economic issues that contributed to the riots, including racism, poverty, and inequality. The Kerner Commission's findings and recommendations played a significant role in shaping US civil rights policy and continue to be relevant today. The commission's work is closely tied to the US Civil Rights Movement, which sought to address the systemic inequalities faced by African Americans and other marginalized communities.

● Introduction to

the Kerner Commission The Kerner Commission was established in response to the wave of urban riots that swept across the United States in the summer of 1967, including the Detroit riot and the Newark riot. The commission was chaired by Otto Kerner Jr., the Governor of Illinois, and included other notable figures such as Fred R. Harris, a US Senator from Oklahoma. The commission's mandate was to investigate the causes of the riots and provide recommendations to prevent future civil unrest. The Kerner Commission's work built on the efforts of earlier commissions, such as the President's Committee on Civil Rights, which was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The commission's findings were also influenced by the work of prominent civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

● Background and Establishment

The Kerner Commission was established on July 28, 1967, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order 11365, which created the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. The commission was composed of 11 members, including John Lindsay, the Mayor of New York City, and Roy Wilkins, the executive director of the NAACP. The commission's staff included experts from various fields, including sociology, economics, and psychology. The commission's work was informed by the research of prominent scholars, such as Gunnar Myrdal, who wrote the influential book An American Dilemma on the state of race relations in the United States. The commission also drew on the expertise of organizations such as the Urban League and the Congress of Racial Equality.

● Investigation and Findings

The Kerner Commission conducted an extensive investigation into the causes of the 1967 urban riots, including interviews with riot participants, community leaders, and law enforcement officials. The commission's findings highlighted the deep-seated social and economic issues that contributed to the riots, including unemployment, poverty, and housing segregation. The commission also identified police brutality and racism as major factors contributing to the riots. The commission's report noted that the riots were not simply the result of criminal behavior, but rather a symptom of a broader social and economic crisis. The commission's findings were influenced by the work of scholars such as Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton, who wrote about the Black Power movement and its relationship to the US Civil Rights Movement.

● Report and Recommendations

The Kerner Commission's report, released on February 29, 1968, provided a comprehensive analysis of the causes of the 1967 urban riots and offered recommendations to prevent future civil unrest. The report called for a significant increase in federal funding for urban renewal programs, as well as the creation of job training programs and affordable housing initiatives. The report also recommended the establishment of community relations programs to improve communication between law enforcement agencies and minority communities. The commission's recommendations were influenced by the work of organizations such as the National Urban Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union. The report's findings and recommendations were widely publicized and sparked a national debate about the state of race relations in the United States.

● Impact on US Civil Rights Policy

The Kerner Commission's report had a significant impact on US civil rights policy, leading to the passage of landmark legislation such as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. The report's recommendations also influenced the development of urban policy initiatives, including the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The commission's findings and recommendations continue to be relevant today, with many of the issues identified in the report remaining unresolved. The report's influence can be seen in the work of organizations such as the National Association of Black Journalists and the Congressional Black Caucus. The commission's legacy is also reflected in the ongoing efforts to address systemic racism and inequality in the United States.

● Legacy and Critique

The Kerner Commission's report has been widely praised for its comprehensive analysis of the causes of the 1967 urban riots and its recommendations for preventing future civil unrest. However, the report has also been criticized for its limitations, including its failure to address the root causes of systemic racism and inequality. Some critics have argued that the report's recommendations did not go far enough in addressing the needs of minority communities. Despite these criticisms, the Kerner Commission's report remains an important milestone in the history of the US Civil Rights Movement. The report's legacy can be seen in the ongoing efforts to address social justice issues, including the work of organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

● Connection to

the US Civil Rights Movement The Kerner Commission's work is closely tied to the US Civil Rights Movement, which sought to address the systemic inequalities faced by African Americans and other marginalized communities. The commission's findings and recommendations built on the efforts of earlier civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The commission's report also influenced the development of later civil rights initiatives, including the Black Power movement and the Chicano Movement. The Kerner Commission's legacy continues to be felt today, with many of the issues identified in the report remaining unresolved. The commission's work serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality in the United States, and the need for continued efforts to address the systemic inequalities faced by marginalized communities. The commission's connection to the US Civil Rights Movement is reflected in the work of organizations such as the National Civil Rights Museum and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.