Thread by @karlajstrand

Attending this session now!

Richard Rothstein's book is The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America epi.org/publication/th…

Rothstein: Every metro area in this country is still segregated. The Civil Rights Movement didn't "solve" this. Much of the country wasn't convinced that segregation of neighborhoods was wrong or immoral. We've adopted a rationalization of it.

Rothstein: We tell ourselves as previous segregation was unconstitutional bc it was created by law, public policy. Residential segregation is different is what the excuse says. It wasn't legislated, it happened "naturally," we say.

Rothstein: Private activities aren't the same as legislation. If it happened naturally, it has to end naturally. It's de facto segregation, it happened in fact not in law. This is the normative narrative.

Rothstein: Just as socioeconomic conditions impede the educational achievement of some children and not others, residential circumstances affect education gap. Schools are more segregated now than they were 50 years ago, in part because of residential segregation.

Rothstein: Mobs tried to drive African Americans out of legitimately purchased homes. This was not de facto segregation. Often the police protected mobs or planned events to terrorize Black families in previously white neighborhoods. De facto segregation is a myth.

Rothstein: The government has created, maintained, enforced state-sanctioned residential segregation. All of us have an obligation to fight against this. A white noose has been created around urban America: suburbs of white families surrounding Black inner city neighborhoods.

Rothstein: Levittown is an example, outside of NY. Levit didn't have the money to develop this all-white suburb in the mid-20th century. They would've had to give commitment to FHA and Vets Admin to not sell/resell to Black families. This was in no way de facto segregation.

Rothstein: These were planned policies, created intentionally to keep Blacks separate from whites and in certain areas of the county. De facto segregation is "utter nonsense" with "no basis in reality."

Rothstein: Often white people who bought these homes were vets. They invested in the homes, subsidized by federal government to buy the homes, and gained wealth and equity. The financed education, retirement, bequeathed to children so that they could buy their own homes.

Rothstein: Black families weren't allowed to do this. The legacy of this is staggering. Black families have only 5% of white wealth. The wealth gap is entirely attributable to unfair federal housing policies and has never been remedied.

Rothstein: Wealth gap in turn increases mass incarceration and policing abuse, health disparities, poverty, lack of opportunity, segregation, political polarization that largely tracks racial lines.

Rothstein: Local governments also took part in enforcing segregation. Example: highway systems designed to separate races and keep blacks away from areas desirable to whites.

Rothstein: We know how to redress segregation. What we need is a new Civil Rights Movement to challenge segregation. Federal government should buy up $300k homes and sell them to Black families for $100k. This would make up for unconstitutional housing segregation.

Rothstein: Shouldn't be giving tax credits for people to build more low-income housing in already segregated neighborhoods. This is backwards. Section 8 also reinforces segregation. Voucher recipients are often denied, laws aren't enforced.

Rothstein: Zoning ordinances prohibit construction of certain types of housing. They also reinforce unconstitutionally segregated landscapes. These ordinances must be challenged.

Rothstein: We need a new Civil Rights Movement to redress segregation. A new national committee is being formed to do this work. The pandemic prevented the launch of the committee, but it is coming soon.

A panel discussion will begin now moderated by Sarah Mattson Dustin. Panelists include Rothstein, Rep. Charlotte Dilorenzo (NH), Dr. Marie Ramas, @docramas, and Ryan Terrell, candidate for NH House of Representatives.

Rothstein: Segregation affects health of African Americans: COVID, asthma, cardio issues. Race neutral policies will often reinforce segregation even though they aren't racially specific. Example: Higher property taxes in Black neighborhoods.

Rothstein: We move forward as citizens. There's not a lot of legislation that would have public support to redress residential segregation. We must be participants in a new Civil Rights Movement.

Rothstein: Fair Housing Act had some effect. For example: Levittown, NY, allowed African Americans to move there but still the homes are $300k and often out of reach.

Rothstein: Credit system has disparate impact on POC and low-income families. Credit scoring systems aren't explicitly racist but can reinforce segregation. Example: rental payments made on time do not affect one's credit score.

Rothstein is hopeful. "Not confident, but hopeful." The accurate, compassionate conversations about racial justice occurring now give him hope. People are taking part in demonstrations; the growing awareness and participation give him hope.

Rothstein: Just demonstrating alone will not do it; we need strategy, work, collaboration. We need to mobilize. Explicit government policy created this segregation and explicit government policy can reverse it. But we need a new Civil Rights Movement to make this happen.