The Color of Law
A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
What's it about
Ever wonder why American cities are still so segregated, long after segregation was outlawed? You might think it was just private prejudice or economic differences, but the truth is far more deliberate and shocking. This book summary uncovers the forgotten story of how the government itself was the architect of modern segregation. You'll discover the specific laws, policies, and court decisions that systematically separated communities by race. Learn how federal housing programs, zoning ordinances, and even law enforcement created the racial divides we still see today. This isn't just history; it’s the key to understanding the roots of inequality in America.
Meet the author
Richard Rothstein is a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. His decades of research into education and housing policy culminated in this groundbreaking work, revealing the unconstitutional, racially explicit government policies that created residential segregation. Rothstein meticulously uncovered a history hidden in plain sight, challenging the myth of de facto segregation and reshaping our understanding of American inequality.
What's it about
Ever wonder why American cities are still so segregated, long after segregation was outlawed? You might think it was just private prejudice or economic differences, but the truth is far more deliberate and shocking. This book summary uncovers the forgotten story of how the government itself was the architect of modern segregation. You'll discover the specific laws, policies, and court decisions that systematically separated communities by race. Learn how federal housing programs, zoning ordinances, and even law enforcement created the racial divides we still see today. This isn't just history; it’s the key to understanding the roots of inequality in America.
Meet the author
Richard Rothstein is a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. His decades of research into education and housing policy culminated in this groundbreaking work, revealing the unconstitutional, racially explicit government policies that created residential segregation. Rothstein meticulously uncovered a history hidden in plain sight, challenging the myth of de facto segregation and reshaping our understanding of American inequality.
The Script
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