The Civil Rights Restoration Act was a landmark piece of legislation in Black history that was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The Act aimed to overturn a Supreme Court decision that had weakened civil rights enforcement by narrowing the scope of protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Supreme Court had ruled in the case of Grove City College v. Bell that Title VI only applied to specific programs that directly received federal funding, rather than to entire institutions that received federal funding. This ruling had the effect of limiting the reach of civil rights protections in areas such as education, employment, and healthcare.

The Civil Rights Restoration Act sought to reverse this decision by clarifying that Title VI applied to all programs or activities of an institution that received federal financial assistance, regardless of whether the specific program in question received funding. This expanded the scope of civil rights protections and was seen as a significant victory for civil rights advocates and marginalized communities.

The Act was a crucial step in strengthening civil rights enforcement and ensuring that institutions receiving federal funding were held accountable for providing equal opportunities and protections to all individuals. It was an important moment in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in America.