Minority housing segregation

Date and country of first publication^[1]

2000
United States

Definition

Minority housing segregation refers to the historical and ongoing practice of segregating marginalized racial and ethnic groups into specific neighborhoods or communities. This segregation has been enforced through various means, including discriminatory housing policies, redlining, racial steering by real estate agents, and racial covenants.

Historically, minority housing segregation in the United States can be traced back to the period of slavery and continued after the abolition of slavery. Government policies, such as the establishment of racially restrictive zoning laws in the early 20th century, further reinforced this segregation.

During the mid-20th century, the practice of redlining became prevalent. Redlining was a discriminatory practice by which banks and financial institutions marked certain neighborhoods, often minority-majority areas, as "hazardous" for lending purposes. This practice led to disinvestment and limited access to mortgage loans for marginalized communities, perpetuating their segregation and depriving them of opportunities for wealth accumulation.

Although the Fair Housing Act of 1968 has led to some progress in combating housing discrimination, many minority communities continue to face segregation. Limited access to affordable housing in predominantly white neighborhoods, along with ongoing racial bias in the housing market, contribute to this continued segregation.

Housing segregation has detrimental effects on minority communities. It disproportionately exposes them to substandard housing conditions, limited access to quality education and healthcare facilities, higher crime rates, and limited economic opportunities. Additionally, segregation perpetuates racial and socioeconomic disparities, creating long-lasting inequalities.

Efforts to address minority housing segregation include promoting fair housing laws, providing affordable housing in diverse neighborhoods, enforcing anti-discrimination policies, and investing in marginalized communities to improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

References

Notes

↑ Date and country of first publication as informed by the Scopus database (December 2023).

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