We Live Here The Segregation Myth-buster
Jun 7, 2018
Richard Rothstein, author of 'The Color of Law,' delves into the intentional government policies that designed racial segregation in America. He critiques the myth that segregation arose from individual choices, instead highlighting historical actions that enforced racial separation. Rothstein explores significant housing policies from the mid-20th century, like the Federal Housing Administration's role, and discusses the implications for modern society. He also emphasizes grassroots movements, like Black Lives Matter, offering a hopeful perspective on the struggle for equality.
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Segregation Was Government-Designed
- Segregation in America was intentionally designed by federal, state, and local governments via explicit policies.
- This systemic engineering, not private choice, created today's racial housing segregation.
FHA Made White-Only Suburbs
- The Federal Housing Administration subsidized white-only suburbs and explicitly forbade selling homes to African Americans.
- This created suburbs like Ferguson and Jennings, shaping the racial landscape of metropolitan areas.
Legacy of Slavery and Jim Crow
- The US never fully addressed slavery’s or Jim Crow’s legacies, establishing a racial caste system.
- Federal policies over a century accepted and reinforced African Americans as a lower caste.
