Society Archives

Segregated Communities Created by Municipalities

Local Governments and Segregated Communities

How did municipal governments create segregated communities? What was the impact of these discriminatory policies on African Americans? Local areas became segregated communities due to racial exclusion policies like school placement, zoning laws, and state-sanctioned violence against Blacks that lived in predominantly white neighborhoods. These racial exclusion policies subjected Blacks to harassment, violence, and residential segregation. Read more to fully discover the policies and tactics local governments used to create segregated communities.

The Color of Law Review: Segregation by Law

Are you looking for a review of The Color of Law? What’s the main argument of The Color of Law? This review of The Color of Law explores the causes of racial residential segregation as identified in the book. The Color of Law argues that discriminatory government policy is primarily responsible for segregation in America. Read the review of The Color of Law to better understand the role of the government in racial segregation.

Roots of Residential Segregation in the United States

When was the start of residential segregation in the United States? Who played the leading role in creating a segregated America? It started with a landmark, unconstitutional Supreme Court decision in 1883 that refused to equate housing discrimination with slavery. This kickstarted the period between 1883 and 1963 when residential segregation in the United States became prevalent. The government at all levels contributed to this issue. Read more about the history of residential segregation in the United States.

The Form and Content of Television Is Changing Society

In what ways are form and content co-dependent? How are television and other forms of content hastening the death of our culture? According to Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, we are allowing the form (television and other forms of media) to dictate the content of our public discourse. In essence, television is redefining public life, and by extension, our culture and society. Here are some examples of how form dictates content and what it means for our culture.

Racial Segregation in Housing: Systemic Inequality

Systemic Inequality and Racial Segregation in Housing

How did federal housing policies enable racial segregation in housing? What is the impact of racial discrimination in housing? Federal housing policies mandated that public housing projects must reflect the racial composition of the neighborhoods around them. This created an environment where African Americans and whites lived in distinct enclaves. Racial segregation has had a destructive impact on Blacks, contributing to wealth inequality and poverty. Read on to learn more about how the government facilitated racial segregation in housing.

History of the Telegraph: How It Eliminated Relevance

How did the invention of the electronic telegraph undermine print-based discourse? How did the inclusion of photography add to the telegraph’s assault on print culture? The electronic telegraph was invented to send messages over long distances and create the opportunity for a national conversation. But in the process, the relevance of information was undermined and newspapers started printing decontextualized information. Keep reading to learn about the history of the telegraph and how it paved the way for the entertainment era.

Racial Predatory Mortgage Lending and the 2008 Crisis

What is predatory mortgage lending? How did years of predatory lending affect Black families during the 2008 financial crisis? Predatory mortgage lending is the imposition of unfair loan terms that diminish the borrower’s ability to repay. Predatory lending practices that were designed to exploit low-income Black families such as subprime mortgage loans led many of these families to default and lose their homes during the 2008 crisis. Read more to learn more about how predatory mortgage lending ensured African Americans were disproportionately affected by the 2008 crisis.

Print Culture vs. Modern Media: The Tides of Change

How did the print culture of previous centuries differ from the entertainment and media culture of today? How has our approach to media consumption changed over the years? The print-centered discourse of 18th and 19th century America was rational, substantive, and serious. In comparison, the entertainment culture of today is shallow, prioritizing entertainment over intelligence. Here’s how the age of print culture differed from our current-day society.

Responsible Consumption Protects the Earth

Do you practice responsible consumption? Do you know the difference it can make for the environment? We often consume things we want, but don’t need. When we over-consume, we deplete the planet’s finite resources. If we fail to practice responsible consumption, we are robbing future generations. Read more to learn how we can strive toward responsible consumption.

The Causes of Residential Segregation in America

What are the causes of residential segregation? What are the effects of residential segregation? Discriminatory public housing policy, housing unaffordability, and the failures of government agencies are the primary causes of residential segregation. Residential segregation has led to isolated black neighborhoods that have lower housing quality, high rates of poverty, and less access to good education. Read on to learn more about the causes of residential segregation.