Push Back

In recent days two schools have set up segregated housing catering to a select group of students. This is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.  It applies to real estate professionals, landlords, leasing agents and student housing coordinators.  

Students can let it pass.  Or hey I know, “Hey gang let’s have a protest and get on the six o’clock news.  Another alternative is to seek an accommodation for white students only.  It will likely not succeed but the powers that be may be pushed into a conversation that they do not want to have.  Finally, students allegedly not qualified can apply for housing at the designated unit can apply anyway and be turned down on the basis of race.  At that point the administration will have committed an overt act in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Federal laws

The United States congress passed a series of Acts aimed at combating segregation. The first such act, The Civil Rights Act of 1866, states in subsections 1981, 1981a, and 1982 that all persons born in the United States are citizens regardless of their race, color, or previous condition and as citizens they could make and enforce contracts, sue and be sued, give evidence in court, and inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real estate and personal property. Although this act was passed, it was never enforced on the local, state or national level.[16] A second act, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, through Title VI outlawed segregation in public schools and public places. It also made it illegal to have segregation of the races in schools, housing, or hiring. Like the first act, powers given to enforce it were weak in the beginning, but were later supplemented.[17] A third act, the Civil Rights Act of 1968, subsection 3604, expanded on the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. This section is also referred to as the Fair Housing Act. This act is enforced at the national level by the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.[18]