Delegate Malcolm Ruff recounts 1964 Civil Rights Act during Black History Moment

Feb 10, 2026

Delegate Malcolm Ruff delivered a Black History Moment highlighting the 83-day debate that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, stressing the role of Black activists and leaders in forcing legislative change.

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Delegate Malcolm Ruff delivered the House’s Black History Moment on Feb. 10, recalling the prolonged struggle and eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ruff noted that the Act reached the floor after an extended, 83-day debate and argued that passage required pressure from activists and leaders rather than a sudden national consensus.

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