The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein, is a powerful and meticulous examination of the history of housing segregation in the United States. Challenging the notions of "socially imposed segregation" that are perpetuated by many influential lawmakers (like Supreme Court Justice John Roberts) and perpetuated by inadequate coverage in modern history textbooks ("Many African Americans found themselves living in segregated neighborhoods"), Rothstein tracks the systematic enforcement of housing segregation through government policies, insurance practices, zoning practices, wage suppression, housing covenants, and sanctioned violence against African Americans who moved into White neighborhoods. He argues persuasively that these policies were explicitly and overtly designed to prevent African Americans from integrating, reduce their access to gainful employment, and prevent them from developing equity, and highlights how the effects of these discriminatory practices are reflected in modern racial problems. Perhaps most alarmingly, he highlights ongoing housing discrimination through practices like biased property tax rates, controlling multi-unit housing, and Section 8 discrimination. In addition to tracing out the breadth of the systematic government propagated segregation that was carried out in the US throughout the past 70 years, Rothstein provides a remarkable level of depth. By diving deeply into the mechanics and results of these policies, he is able to undeniably show the malicious intent and lasting effects of these policies. By grounding his history and analysis in clear statements of policy and economics, he heads off many criticisms that are often supplied by those who would prefer to not acknowledge the historical maltreatment of African Americans. One of the best sections of this book is Rothstein's recommendations for remedies. This topic is addressed with a level of empiricism and candor that is often missing from our conversations about how to address the legacy of segregation and abuse. Rothstein recognizes that remedies will necessarily have adverse effects for some whites, and that in the short term there will be resistance from all sides. What I found most valuable in Rothstein's suggestions is their sustainability and practicality; lasting policies addressing the economic and racial composition of new housing developments have the potential to enact meaningful changes that more myopic single payout approaches fail to achieve. I strongly encourage this book for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of modern racial segregation, and how it has impacted our society.

Interesting book on how the government ignored the Constitution to create segregate communities of African-Americans and Caucasians. I learned a lot and much made me angry. He gives the history of how and when this happened and remedies to correct the past. At times I didn't understand but he wrote so that I could understand the concept. He documents everything. I especially liked the FAQ section. Worth reading.