A MAJOR INTENT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ITS AMENDMENTS, TO GUARANTEE EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL CITIZENS REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, OR COLOR, HAS BEEN REINFORCED BY THE CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES OF MANY STATES. IN SOME STATES SUCH LAWS HAVE BEEN ON RECORD FOR THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENTURY. IN OTHER STATES THE SAME CONSTITUTIONAL INTENT HAS BEEN DENIED BY CUSTOM, BIAS, AND LAW. THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION IS A GUARANTEE OF EQUAL PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BY STATE ACTION. AS OF 1962, THERE WAS NO FEDERAL LAW TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BY PRIVATE PERSON. A CHART OF THE 50 STATES PLUS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND WASHINGTON, D.C., IS INCLUDED TO SHOW THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF STATE LAWS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN FIVE MAJOR AREAS--EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, EDUCATION, INTERMARRIAGE, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. OUTSIDE OF THE EXECUTION OF FEDERAL CONTRACTS, PROHIBITION OF JOB DISCRIMINATION BY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS CAN BE BROUGHT ABOUT BY A STATE STATUTE. STATE LAWS IN THIS AREA ARE USUALLY IN THE FORM OF FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LAWS. TWENTY STATES HAVE PASSED FEP LAWS. CONCERNING HOUSING, EIGHT STATES HAVE ENACTED LAWS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION OF ALL TYPES OF HOUSING, AND A FEW OTHER STATES PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SPECIAL TYPES OF HOUSING. THE 1954 SUPREME COURT DECISION PROHIBITS SEGREGATED PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ALL STATES, ALTHOUGH DIFFERENT STATES HAVE VARIED IN THE SPEED WITH WHICH DESEGREGATION HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. TWENTY-EIGHT STATES HAVE ENACTED LAWS AGAINST SEGREGATED PUBLIC RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES ARE PROHIBITED IN 21 STATES.