Women in Tech Book Club discussion

What surprised you as you read The Color of Law? Should we have known this history? Why don’t we?

What about your own community? Or neighboring communities? Did they fight over public housing or adopt zoning laws to exclude minority and low to moderate income families? Did home deeds prohibit non-Caucasian occupancy? What can be done about these violations now?

After reading this book, a young African American high school graduate sent an email note to the author, from which this is an excerpt:

“As I was growing up, I looked at the racial segregation and accepted it as how it has always been adn will be; I equated white neighborhoods with affluence adn black neighborhoods with poverty. I didn’t think about the major role the government had in hindering the equity accumulation of African-Americans. I think I ingrained this inferiority complex and that is why I did not excel in school as much as I could have.”

What is your reaction? Can the history recounted in this book affect the stereotypes that exist about African-Americans?

What do you know about your community and your local zoning policies during the 20th century? How segregated or integrated is your community? Which policies and laws whether at the local, state or federal level helped propel your community one way or the other?

When the Richmond, CA Ford plant moved to Milpitas, white workers could buy homes near the factory and stay employed. Frank Stevenson and several co-workers shared expenses for a long commute to keep their jobs. When factories nationwide relocated to suburban or rural areas, many (if not most) black workers lost good jobs. If they had Frank Stevenson’s motivation, their families might be better off. It is sometimes said that African Americans “must be twice as good to succeed.” Is this a reasonable substitute for public policy remedies? What are ways you think can contribute to remedying that situation?

Rothstein explains why he believes segregation is hard to undo on page 179 including the following list. Talk through each of these points with your group. Which do you believe is the most pernicious? Where have you seen each of these play out in your community?
The multi-generational nature of economic mobility
The substantial appreciation of homes created a large racial wealth gap
The substantial appreciation of homes means home are now unaffordable to many African Americans
The mortgage interest deduction increased subsidies to higher-income suburban homeowners “contemporary federal, state and local programs have reinforced residential segregation” page 180

Rothstein describes both the laws and policies that were enacted as well as sharing specific stories of individuals and communities from Frank Stevenson in Richmond California to Bill Meyers and Levittown. Spend some time talking through one or more examples. Where and how did the segregationist laws and policies influence the creation of specific communities? How did they impact individuals at the times and how do you think they impacted the descendants of those individuals?