2015/06/01 by Douglas S. Massey · 2 citations
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Civil rights #Fair Housing Act #Homelessness and Social Issues #Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism #Law #Law and economics #Political science #Sociology #Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies
paper · doi:10.1111/socf.12178
openalex publication_date 2015/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
Civil rights activists in 1968 hoped that the passage of the Fair Housing Act would lead to the residential desegregation of American society. In this article I assess the degree to which this hope has been fulfilled. I begin by reviewing how the black ghetto came to be a universal feature of American cities during the 20th Century and the means by which high levels of black segregation were achieved. I then describe the legislative maneuvers required to pass the Fair Housing Act and review its enforcement provisions to assess its potential for achieving desegregation. After examining trends in residential segregation since 1970, I conclude with an appraisal of the prospects for integration as we move toward the 50th anniversary of the Act's passage.