Final answer:
The pursuit of racial equality by the federal government declined due to resistance from state officials, changing voter priorities, and the high cost of enforcement. The recommendations from the Kerner Commission faced too much opposition, and Jim Crow laws established long-lasting segregation until the Civil Rights Movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal government's commitment to racial equality weakened after various efforts such as the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and court challenges proved insufficient. The resistance from state officials and voters' shifting priorities towards economic recovery after the Panic of 1873 led to significant electoral gains for the Democrats who opposed Reconstruction policies. The changes in mood were also due to other pressing issues taking precedence over civil rights, as well as the high cost of enforcing these policies. Moreover, the Kerner Commission's report, which identified white racism as a fundamental cause of urban violence, had recommendations that faced opposition too severe to implement effectively.
By the end of Reconstruction, government and corporate employers recognized the value of a diverse workforce and the detriments of discrimination. However, the passage of Jim Crow laws after the failure to fully implement Reconstruction promises, and the Supreme Court upholding 'separate but equal' in Plessy v. Ferguson, reinforced racial segregation and inequality, delaying further federal intervention until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.