The Color of Law
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The Color of Law is a stunning expose of how American governments in the 20th century deliberately imposed racial segregation on metropolitan areas nationwide. Richard Rothstein challenges the notion that residential segregation in the United States is solely a product of private prejudice or economic forces, revealing that government-sponsored practices such as racial zoning, public housing segregation, and subsidies for builders to create whites-only suburbs were behind the perpetuation of this inexcusable practice. Rothstein provides a masterful, comprehensive history of the modern American metropolis, detailing how American cities were systematically divided by race. His work has transformed our understanding of the society we live in, forcing us to recognize and remedy the unconstitutional and insidious practices of the past. A poignant and essential read for anyone seeking to understand the history of race relations in the United States.