Kerner Commission

Kerner Commission
Trikosko, Marion S., photographer · Public domain · source
Name	Kerner Commission
Formation	1967
Purpose	Investigate the causes of the 1967 urban riots
Chairman	Otto Kerner Jr.

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 Detroit riot and other urban riots that took place across the United States during the summer of 1967. The commission's report, released in 1968, identified racism and poverty as the primary causes of the riots and recommended a range of policies to address these issues, including increased funding for social programs and affirmative action initiatives. The Kerner Commission's findings and recommendations had a significant impact on the development of US civil rights policy and continue to be relevant today, with many of its recommendations remaining unfulfilled. The commission's work was closely tied to the broader US Civil Rights Movement, which sought to address issues of racial inequality and social injustice through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.

● Introduction to

the Kerner Commission The Kerner Commission was established in response to a wave of urban riots that swept across the United States in the summer of 1967, including the 1967 Newark riots and the 1967 Detroit riot. The commission was chaired by Otto Kerner Jr., the Governor of Illinois, and included a range of experts and officials, including David Ginsburg, William McCulloch, and Roy Wilkins. The commission's mandate was to investigate the causes of the riots and to recommend policies to prevent future outbreaks of violence. The commission's work was informed by a range of factors, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which had been passed in response to the Birmingham campaign and other civil rights initiatives. The commission also drew on the work of scholars and activists, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr., who had written extensively on issues of racial inequality and social justice.

● 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 given a broad mandate to investigate the causes of the urban riots and to recommend policies to prevent future outbreaks of violence. The commission's members were appointed by the President and included a range of experts and officials, including Fred Harris, Edward Brooke, and Shirley Chisholm. The commission's staff was led by David Ginsburg, who had previously worked as a lawyer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The commission's work was informed by a range of factors, including the Great Society programs, which had been launched by President Johnson to address issues of poverty and inequality. The commission also drew on the work of scholars and activists, including Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X, who had written extensively on issues of black power and self-defense.

● Findings and Recommendations

The Kerner Commission's report, which was released on February 29, 1968, identified racism and poverty as the primary causes of the urban riots. The report noted that the riots were not simply the result of criminal behavior, but rather were a symptom of deeper social and economic problems, including unemployment, poor housing, and inadequate education. The report recommended a range of policies to address these issues, including increased funding for social programs, such as job training and housing assistance, and affirmative action initiatives to promote greater equality of opportunity. The report also recommended the establishment of a range of new programs and institutions, including a national police force and a federal agency to oversee urban development. The commission's findings and recommendations were informed by a range of factors, including the War on Poverty and the Model Cities Program, which had been launched by President Johnson to address issues of urban poverty and decay. The commission's work was also influenced by the Black Panther Party, which had been founded in Oakland, California in 1966 to promote self-defense and community empowerment.

● Impact on US Civil Rights Policy

The Kerner Commission's report had a significant impact on the development of US civil rights policy. The report's findings and recommendations were widely publicized and helped to shift the national conversation around issues of racial inequality and social justice. The report's emphasis on the need for affirmative action and social programs to address issues of poverty and inequality helped to inform the development of a range of new policies and initiatives, including the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972. The report's recommendations also helped to shape the development of urban policy, including the Model Cities Program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The commission's work was closely tied to the broader US Civil Rights Movement, which continued to push for greater equality and justice through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. The movement's leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, played a key role in shaping the national conversation around issues of racial inequality and social justice.

● Response and Criticism

The Kerner Commission's report was widely praised by civil rights leaders and liberal politicians, who saw it as a major step forward in the struggle for racial equality and social justice. However, the report was also criticized by some, including conservative politicians and law enforcement officials, who argued that it was too soft on crime and violence. The report's emphasis on the need for affirmative action and social programs was also criticized by some, who argued that it would be too expensive and would not be effective in addressing the underlying causes of the riots. The commission's work was also influenced by the FBI's COINTELPRO program, which had been launched in the 1950s to disrupt and discredit civil rights and black power organizations. The program's activities, including surveillance and infiltration, helped to undermine the work of the commission and the broader US Civil Rights Movement.

● Legacy and Influence on Social Justice

The Kerner Commission's report has had a lasting impact on the development of US civil rights policy and continues to be relevant today. The report's findings and recommendations have been cited by a range of scholars and activists, including Angela Davis and Cornel West, who have argued that the commission's work helped to highlight the need for greater equality and justice in American society. The report's emphasis on the need for affirmative action and social programs has also helped to inform the development of a range of new policies and initiatives, including the Affirmative Action program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The commission's work has also been recognized by a range of organizations, including the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which have praised the commission's efforts to promote greater equality and justice. The commission's legacy continues to be felt today, with many of its recommendations remaining unfulfilled and continuing to be relevant to contemporary debates around issues of racial inequality and social justice.

● Connection to

the US Civil Rights Movement The Kerner Commission's work was closely tied to the broader US Civil Rights Movement, which sought to address issues of racial inequality and social injustice through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. The commission's findings and recommendations were informed by a range of factors, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery marches, which had been led by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders. The commission's work was also influenced by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which had been founded in 1960 to promote student activism and community empowerment. The commission's legacy continues to be felt today, with many of its recommendations remaining unfulfilled and continuing to be relevant to contemporary debates around issues of racial inequality and social justice. The commission's work serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in American society and the need for continued activism and advocacy to address the underlying causes of poverty and inequality.