How did federal housing policies institutionalize segregation and wealth disparities?

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RACE THE POWER OF AN ILLUSION

Episode III: The House We Live In

Transcript Available: http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm

(Go to: "About the Series," then "Episode 3: The House We Live In," then click on Get Transcript.)

Before Viewing (Short Answer)

1. Does race affect your life? Why or why not? If so, in what ways?

2. Forty years ago, the Civil Rights Act declared that forced racial segregation was illegal. In light of this, why do you think some neighborhoods, schools and workplaces are still segregated?

3. What stereotypes have you heard or seen about different racial groups? Where do they come from?

4. Do you think people today should be held accountable for past discrimination?

Why or why not?

5. Define “racial preferences." List a couple of current examples. Do the preferences you see in practice today tend to most benefit whites, Blacks, or others.

Video Viewing (Essay Responses)

1. Prior to the 1952 removal of the racial requirements for naturalization:

(A) Who was and who was not allowed to become a naturalized citizen?

(B) What rights and privileges did citizens have that non-citizens did not have?

(C) What were the consequences for those denied citizenship (Reference and Cite: Ozawa and Thind cases)?

2. How did European ethnics become White? What made this possible?

Include in your response the roles of: a) U.S. Supreme Court AND b) Levittown.

3. How did federal housing policies institutionalize segregation and wealth disparities?

4. Why do property values go down when a neighborhood changes from White to Non-White? Who plays a role in this?

5. What happens to measures of racial disparities in places like education and welfare rates when groups of similar income AND wealth are compared?

6. Given the present day ethnic stratification within the U.S., explain how adopting a "color blind society" policy could potentially perpetuate racial disparities.