Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality

by Deborah N. Archer

From an eminent legal scholar and the president of the ACLU, an essential account of how transportation infrastructure—from highways and roads to sidewalks and buses—became a means of protecting segregation and inequality after the fall of Jim Crow.

Our nation’s transportation system is crumbling: highways are collapsing, roads are pockmarked, and commuter trains are unreliable. But as acclaimed scholar and ACLU president Deborah Archer warns in Dividing Lines, before we can think about rebuilding and repairing, we must consider the role race has played in transportation infrastructure, from the early twentieth century and into the present day.

As Archer demonstrates, the success of the Civil Rights movement and the fall of Jim Crow in the 1960s did not mean the end of segregation. The status quo would not be so easily dismantled. With state-sanctioned racism no longer legal, officials across the country—not just in the South—turned to transportation infrastructure to keep Americans divided. A wealthy white neighborhood could no longer be “protected” by racial covenants and segregated shops, but a multilane road, with no pedestrian crossings, could be built along its border to make it difficult for people from a lower-income community to visit. Highways could not be routed through Black neighborhoods based on the race of their residents, but those neighborhoods’ lower property values—a legacy of racial exclusion—could justify their destruction. A new suburb could not be for “whites only,” but planners could refuse to extend sidewalks from Black communities into white ones.

Drawing on a wealth of sources, including interviews with people who now live in the shadow of highways and other major infrastructure projects, Archer presents a sweeping, national account—from Atlanta and Houston to Indianapolis and New York City—of our persistent divisions. With immense authority, she examines the limits of current Civil Rights laws, which can be used against overtly racist officials but are less effective in addressing deeper, more enduring, structural challenges. But Archer remains hopeful, and in the final count describes what a just system would look like and how we can achieve it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Sociology, History, Transport, Urbanism, Urban Planning

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Nash Δ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a recovering urban planner working in local government this one hurt a little—in a good way.

Dividing Lines does a thorough job of examining the often overlooked ways transportation systems have established and perpetuate racial segregation and inequality in the US. Through historical analysis, case studies, and contemporary examples, Archer highlights how transportation policies have systematically disadvantaged Black communities, often exacerbating racial divides and limiting access to resources and opportunities.

Archer explores how transportation infrastructure has long been a tool for reinforcing racial and economic segregation. She traces the history of transportation decisions and policy to present day practices that continue to restrict mobility for marginalized groups. Showing the direct tie between transportation policy and racial inequality, she reveals the deep, often missed systems of exclusion that impact daily life.

One of the book's strengths is how it connects transportation to broader themes of racial justice and equity. Archer makes it clear that addressing racial disparities in transportation is not just about fixing bus routes or repairing roads, rather it’s about recognizing and dismantling the structural systems that perpetuate inequality.

Throughout the text, Archer's passion for her work is clear. She argues that transportation reform is an essential component of any larger effort to combat racial injustice in the US. A call to action for policymakers, activists, and everyday citizens alike, the book invites people to reimagine how transportation systems can be designed to serve everyone, not just the privileged few.

For anyone interested in navigating the intersections of race, infrastructure, and inequality, this book is an important, thought provoking read.

[Josh Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

details the racist infrastructure America's towns and cities were built upon and continues to exist today. It is so incredibly important to understand this stuff.

[Juliette Barasch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be perfect material for an undergrad Urban Politics/Studies course (complimentary). The scholarship is immense, but the analysis is ultimately a little thin, and coming primarily from a Legalist perspective (if that's your thing, cool!).

[Edward ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

an upsetting history that must be righted

[Marley B · Rating 4 out of 5]

In summary, Archer writes, "the oppression of Black America is the driving force behind the development of the United States". To defend such a bold and broad statement in a clear and effective manner may seem a daunting or even impossible task, but Deborah N Archer does this masterfully -- looking beyond redlining and other infamous Reconstruction-era policies, Archer describes how historically (and to this day) transportation infrastructure policies have contributed to prominent racial inequalities throughout America in a direct, clear, and succint manner (the entire book spans less than 200 pages!).

If I were a teacher, I would love to use selections from this work. While the writing is not complex (in the sense that I could imagine it being taught to a high school level course), it is a bit dense-- the only knock on an otherwise perfect and deeply informative book (not a casual read, but certainly something that could be expected in a course). This only disappoints me because I think the insidious nature of how the nation's transportation system is a material manifestation of the structural racism America has been founded on deserves to be shared with mass audiences, who might not be able to take much away from this text (basically, I wish I could share this with my dad).

That being said, the anecdotes and examples Archer chooses to share and highlight are incredibly effective in supporting her overarching thesis; my favorite passages included discussions of legal framework that makes it difficult to challenge discriminatory city planning --these sections in particular were so clear to me (without a legal background) and inspire me to take a more active role in local politics, where these inequalities can be first perpetuated. Prior to this reading, I'm not sure I have ever taken seriously state and local propositions regarding community planning or transportation; I see now that this is a massive failing for someone who is committed to the act of social justice. As Archer explains, once a physical barrier (ie highway) is constructed, these can be more effective than legal or social barriers enforcing segregation and racial injustice, because they are even more challenging to reform -- if you can imagine how difficult it is to change a racist law, think about how difficult it would be to reroute an already constructed highway/subway system.

Ultimately, Archer concludes: "The interstate highway system did not cause every problem that urban communities face. But its construction compounded discrimination, exclusion, and exploitation, and the boundaries the highways created -- physical, psychological, and economic -- were and remain durable monuments of white supremacy." I am impressed at her ability to defend this claim so thoroughly, and would recommend this book to anyone interested in structural racism beyond a surface-level introduction.

[Joan Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ve heard the stories about highways intersecting black communities, but this book informs and demonstrates how this occurred. It informs about federal legislation that systematically led to racial injustice, economic injustice, social injustice, educational injustice, commercial, and industrial injustice, health injustice for people of color and the poor. It highlights the law,, court rulings, and how councils and counties use and interpret the law to further marginalized the poor and people of color and to benefit whites and benefit more wealthy communities . It also highlights the means and ways by which councils and counties reduce or remove affected Neighborhoods from discussions about infrastructural planning and disregard the effects of these plans on peoples livelihood, access to work, access to play, access to packs and the entrenched racism and racial underpinnings of infrastructural plans people it highlights the dog whistles, the metaphorical phrases, such as “ urban renewal,“, faster and cheaper“, “ efficiency“ it also highlights how these this disenfranchisement affects the overall uplifting of the black community.

[Alice Korngold · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary accounting of the role that transportation infrastructure has played in solidifying racial segregation and limiting opportunities for Black Americans. Magnificently researched, with the added value of the author’s on-the-ground experiences with activists in communities seeking to build more just systems. Robust recommendations based on meaningful progress and innovations in a variety of communities. With the added benefit of being beautifully written, which makes it particularly compelling reading. Congratulations Deborah Archer.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done. Much of the book covers well-trod ground, in particular the abominable and intentional destruction of Black neighborhoods to build interstate highways. But other parts covered less-well-known areas like street names, sidewalks, and public transit. Well written and researched. Could have used many more maps to make its points more efficiently and memorably. Does a better job than many other books at recommending solutions, such as more use of racial-impact statements, although obviously that's not going to be happening much in the near future. Still, it's well done.

[William Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer exposes transportation's role in racial segregation, calling for systemic reform to ensure equity and justice. A compelling read on infrastructure and inequality in America.
This book is 10/10 whould recommend
might even read again.

[Kathy F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and informative. You will never drive down a highway or on the interstate again and not think about how these roads basically destroyed neighborhoods and people's lives. A real eye opener.

[Danielle V · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a book be so depressing and infuriating, while also being just so beautifully written. It is a powerful and informative read.

[Linda G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book that is well-researched and beautifully written. The contribution this book makes to how we see and understand the environment around us can’t be overstated.

[Ronald G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who cares about understanding how we got here and who wants to help build more just communities.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This explains every city in the United States I’ve been to. It has helped me see things about how cities are set up in this country that I didn’t notice before.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be a more detailed look at the race and transportation issues covered in color of law, but it didn't feel like it was as coherent of an argument

[kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book. I will take with me a lot of the things I learned from this book and the bigger perspective of infrastructure will change the way I see the built world.