National Advisory Commission On Civil Disorders

About the Author

The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 amid the urban riots that swept American cities, was tasked with investigating the underlying causes of civil unrest and proposing solutions to prevent future outbreaks. Chaired by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner and including a diverse panel of political, civic, and business leaders, the commission conducted extensive research, including field investigations, public hearings, and data analysis from affected communities. Their seminal work, 'The Kerner Report (The James Madison Library in American Politics),' released in 1968, delivered a stark diagnosis of racial injustice, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination, famously warning that the nation was 'moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.' The report's recommendations for housing, education, employment, and law enforcement reforms remain a cornerstone of civil rights discourse, influencing policy debates for decades.