Mike Pascoe’s Reviews > The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America > Status Update

“Urban renewal = negro removal”

Helena Montana less than 0.5% of population blacks after being systematically forced out. Police enforced curfews against blacks from staying out after sunset. Woodrow Wilson was a segregationist, FDR did not challenge this. Baltimore in 1910 had ordinance to prevent blacks to live near whites. Ironic how mixed race offspring was discouraged despite white slave holders raping black slaves.

What if urban designers used segregation by allowing public housing in cities instead of fighting it? In 1876 the south was already segregating blacks and forming paramilitary groups killing blacks and preventing the ability to vote. Slaves were recasted at share croppers and taken advantage of. Murderous groups were never prosecuted. Tillman name has not been taken off of Clemson hall :(

The FHA would not insure home loans for blacks. Real estate agents would not show homes to blacks. If a white agent did help a black family buy a home, they were blank balled. Housing policies were likely used where you live to support segregation. Blacks were excluded from military base housing during WWI. Housing developments part of The New Deal were segregated. Example after example of qualified blacks excluded.

We often cover up connections to racist history using euphemisms like inner city instead of ghetto, and improved diversity instead of righting segregation in schools.

White service men could apply for government backed mortgage loans (blacks couldn’t), white homes increased in equity, increased wealth, inherited by children, could go to college - not so for blacks. This is white welfare.