Kerner Commission

The Kerner Commission, officially known as the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, was established in 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson in response to widespread racial riots in U.S. cities. Its key findings highlighted systemic racism, poverty, and inequality as root causes of civil unrest. The commission famously concluded that "our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal." It recommended significant reforms in education, housing, and employment to address these issues and promote racial integration and economic opportunity, emphasizing the need for social justice and civil rights.