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
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Key people	Otto Kerner Jr., Fred R. Harris, Edward Brooke

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 urban renewal programs and the creation of jobs and job training programs for African Americans. The Kerner Commission's report was a significant moment in the US Civil Rights Movement, as it highlighted the deep-seated social and economic problems faced by African Americans and called for major reforms to address these issues.

● 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. These riots resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, injured thousands, and caused widespread property damage. The commission was tasked with investigating the causes of these riots and making recommendations for preventing future violence. The commission was chaired by Otto Kerner Jr., the Governor of Illinois, and included a range of other prominent figures, including Fred R. Harris, a US Senator from Oklahoma, and Edward Brooke, a US Senator from Massachusetts and the first African American to be elected to the Senate since Reconstruction. The commission's work was informed by a range of experts, including sociologists like Robert M. Fogelson and psychologists like Kenneth B. Clark.

● 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 make recommendations for preventing future violence. The commission's members were chosen for their expertise and experience in areas related to the riots, including law enforcement, urban planning, and civil rights. The commission's staff included a range of experts, including economists like Robert Browne and sociologists like David Boesel. The commission's work was also informed by a range of civil rights organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

● Investigation and Findings

The Kerner Commission conducted a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the urban riots, including a review of existing research and data, as well as interviews with witnesses and participants. The commission's investigation found that the riots were the result of a range of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and racism. The commission also found that the riots were often sparked by incidents of police brutality or other forms of racial profiling. The commission's report identified a range of underlying social and economic problems that contributed to the riots, including segregation, discrimination, and inequality. The commission's findings were informed by a range of experts, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr., who testified before the commission.

● Report and Recommendations

The Kerner Commission's report, which was released on February 29, 1968, made a range of recommendations for addressing the social and economic problems that contributed to the riots. The report called for increased funding for urban renewal programs, as well as the creation of jobs and job training programs for African Americans. The report also recommended a range of reforms to address police brutality and racial profiling, including the creation of civilian review boards to oversee police conduct. The report's recommendations were influenced by a range of civil rights leaders, including Thurgood Marshall and Ralph Abernathy. The report's findings and recommendations were also informed by a range of academic research, including studies by sociologists like Robert Blauner and economists like Gunnar Myrdal.

● Impact on

the US Civil Rights Movement The Kerner Commission's report had a significant impact on the US Civil Rights Movement, as it highlighted the deep-seated social and economic problems faced by African Americans and called for major reforms to address these issues. The report's findings and recommendations were widely publicized and helped to galvanize public support for the civil rights movement. The report's emphasis on the need for economic empowerment and social justice also helped to shape the movement's agenda, as leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson began to focus more on issues like poverty and unemployment. The report's influence can be seen in a range of subsequent civil rights legislation, including the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972.

● Legacy and Criticism

The Kerner Commission's report has had a lasting legacy, as it helped to shape the national conversation about race and poverty in the United States. The report's findings and recommendations have been widely cited and have influenced a range of subsequent policy initiatives, including the War on Poverty and the Great Society programs. However, the report has also been subject to criticism, with some arguing that its recommendations did not go far enough in addressing the root causes of the riots. Others have argued that the report's emphasis on social programs and government intervention was misguided and that more attention should have been paid to issues like personal responsibility and community empowerment. Despite these criticisms, the Kerner Commission's report remains an important milestone in the US Civil Rights Movement and continues to be studied by scholars and policymakers today.

● Key Figures and Members

The Kerner Commission included a range of prominent figures, including Otto Kerner Jr., Fred R. Harris, and Edward Brooke. Other notable members included John Lindsay, the Mayor of New York City, and Roy Wilkins, the executive director of the NAACP. The commission's staff included a range of experts, including Robert M. Fogelson and Kenneth B. Clark. The commission's work was also informed by a range of civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. The commission's report was influenced by a range of academic research, including studies by sociologists like Robert Blauner and economists like Gunnar Myrdal. The commission's legacy continues to be felt today, with many of its recommendations remaining relevant to contemporary debates about race, poverty, and social justice.