Television enhanced the civil rights movement, which gave the movement the momentum it needed to succeed and spur the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The importance of the television was in how people not directly involved in the movement could see and hear exactly what was happening. This lead to a greater public understanding of how people of color were being treated, and the violence used by segregationists to suppress the movement. While other factors did contribute to the overall success of the movement, such as civil rights groups and the presidential leadership, it was television that lead to achievement and progress.

It was not television alone that drove change, both presidential leadership and the leadership of civil rights activists played a crucial part in act being passed. Television was able to garner support and momentum for the anti-segregation movement, which propelled civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King, to reach and inspire and greater audience of people. Also, the support that it brought to the movement pushed president Lyndon B. Johnson to support a useful and fair civil rights act passed, something that the prior president, John F. Kennedy, could not do. President Kennedy 's focus on the Cold War limited his effect on the desegregation movement because if he wanted votes for money to fight against the USSR, he could not get the votes for meaningful civil rights acts. The impact of the television is described in an article by Ariana Queenan, as