Racism has been written into the United States' laws and entrenched in its institutions for much of its history. Native Americans weren't granted citizenship until 1924. Before the mid-1900s, students of color were pushed into segregated schools. And many states maintained laws against interracial marriages until 1967. In the Race and American Law series, readers will look at how court cases and government actions have moved toward more equality among races, even as systemic racism continues to affect people and communities today.