Segregation in Perpetuity

A recent episode of This American Life addressed the perpetual nature of housing segregation in America. In particular, the episode focused on the failure of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to effectively desegregate neighborhoods, describing how George Romney's efforts - as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development - to enforce the Fair Housing Act were shut down by President Richard Nixon. Romney did not consider housing segregation a minor issue, calling it "the greatest crisis in our nation's history." In the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Riots, Romney felt that the inequality created by housing segregation was one reason for the unrest that spun into violence, saying:

"We must have open housing on a statewide basis. Zoning that creates either large-scale economic or racial segregation should be eliminated. We must provide low cost private housing through nonprofit organizations in all parts of the metropolitan area and throughout the state."

Detroit 1967 - via Wayne State University

In short summary, Romney's enforcement of the Fair Housing Act brought Nixon's administration unwanted attention and criticism from important constituents and Romney was eventually forced out. Nixon then ordered a narrow reading of the law, acknowledging in private letters that as a result, "by taking this view, the schools will still be segregated and neighborhoods will still be segregated." Which brings us where we are today:  still discussing significant problems with education and housing segregation and failing to enact viable solutions.

Furthermore, a recent article in the Washington Post addresses the growing economic segregation in our neighborhoods, questioning the consequences of such a trend: decreasing upward mobility, an unsympathetic wealthy class, and a resentful lower class. It is certainly plausible that such trends in economic segregation - combined with a shrinking middle class and an increasing level of poverty - will lead to future riots on American streets on the scale of Detroit 1967, compared to which the OWS protests were rather cordial. The prevailing divisive political climate will prevent future legislation to address consequences that arise from current trends.

Conclusion via question: if diversity is valued as an asset in academic, business and political spheres, why is it devalued - or at least ignored - when it comes to housing?

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