Big News Recap: That hope materializing back in the day. #whitesonly #coloredonly #banned Just in case you forgot or didnt know when things changed, not so long ago. Ask your grandparents about it. Sharing. #Repost @cnn ・・・ On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law, hailed by some as the most important legislation in American history, ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination, and led to other landmark civil rights bills like the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Above, President Johnson greeted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the signing. (📸: Hulton Archive/ Archive Photos/ Getty Images)