Black History Knowledge — July 2

What happened on this day. These are the July 2 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.

1917 — East St. Louis massacre enters its deadliest phase

On July 2, 1917, white mobs in East St. Louis attacked Black workers and Black neighborhoods. The violence included shootings, beatings, arson, and mass displacement, leaving thousands of Black residents homeless and exposing the violent backlash Black migrants faced during the Great Migration.

1964 — Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed into law

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. The act outlawed segregation in public accommodations, pushed school and public facility integration, and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

1965 — Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opens

On July 2, 1965, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opened one year after Title VII of the Civil Rights Act became law. The EEOC gave the federal government a formal role in fighting workplace discrimination.