Fair Housing Comes of Age - (Contributions in Political Science) by George R Metcalf (Hardcover)

About the Book

Over the past three decades the civil rights movement has succeeded in increasing equality of opportunity for minority groups in American society. However, as Metcalf suggests in this volume, discrimination in the area of housing remains very real and very critical. For, despite the efforts of legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that has led to equality in voting, education, and employment for members of minority groups, housing discrimination in various forms remains rampant, with close to two million incidents of discrimination in housing occurring annually. In this thought-provoking treatment of housing policies and practices within the U.S., Metcalf traces the development of governmental intervention in the housing arena from the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 through the Housing and Community Development act of 1974. . . . Metcalf proposes that his text be used as a catalyst to induce the public to act, and in turn, to influence the courts, administrators, and legislatures at all governmental levels. A detailed and well-written volume. Choice

Despite legislation designed to eliminate discrimination in housing, the ghettoization of minorities, especially Blacks, has become more severe in the past two decades. In this compelling work, George Metcalf examines the reasons why Title VIII has had so little effect, and he documents the experience of the individuals and agencies who have carried the main burden in efforts to achieve fair housing. He offers excerpts and data drawn from extensive interviews, as well as careful analyses of twelve landmark decisions involving violations such as racial steering, misinformation, harassment, redlining, and exclusionary land practices.

Book Synopsis

Over the past three decades the civil rights movement has succeeded in increasing equality of opportunity for minority groups in American society. However, as Metcalf suggests in this volume, discrimination in the area of housing remains very real and very critical. For, despite the efforts of legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that has led to equality in voting, education, and employment for members of minority groups, housing discrimination in various forms remains rampant, with close to two million incidents of discrimination in housing occurring annually. In this thought-provoking treatment of housing policies and practices within the U.S., Metcalf traces the development of governmental intervention in the housing arena from the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 through the Housing and Community Development act of 1974. . . . Metcalf proposes that his text be used as a catalyst to induce the public to act, and in turn, to influence the courts, administrators, and legislatures at all governmental levels. A detailed and well-written volume. Choice

Despite legislation designed to eliminate discrimination in housing, the ghettoization of minorities, especially Blacks, has become more severe in the past two decades. In this compelling work, George Metcalf examines the reasons why Title VIII has had so little effect, and he documents the experience of the individuals and agencies who have carried the main burden in efforts to achieve fair housing. He offers excerpts and data drawn from extensive interviews, as well as careful analyses of twelve landmark decisions involving violations such as racial steering, misinformation, harassment, redlining, and exclusionary land practices.

Review Quotes

?Despite legislation designed to eliminate discrimination in housing, the 'ghettoization' of minorities, especially blacks, has become more severe in the past two decades. An analysis of this intractable problem is given in George R. Metcalfe's Fair Housing Comes of Age.?-Cities

?George R. Metcalf's Fair Housing Comes of Age provides a comprehensive, in-depth view of a civil rights field which, except for legal treatises, has been little explored. Metcalf, himself one of the pioneers of fair housing, offers both a historical and analytical perspective on the difficult fair housing problems that have faced the country and the variety of efforts to deal with them. Perhaps the most fascinating feature of this excellent book is Metcalf's account, through interviews and conversations, of many of the people - fair housing lawyers, plaintiffs, community activists - who labored to make possible the fair housing gains over the years. These accounts - objective, dispassionate, and sympathetic - make the book come truly alive.?-Martin E. Sloan, Past Director, National Comm. Against Discrimination in Housing

?In spite of legislation intended to eliminate discrimination in housing, the ghettoization' of American minorities, especially blacks, has become increasingly severe since the late 1960s. This study begins with an overview of federal legislation and a discussion of the Reagan administration's record on the fair housing issue. The survey covers the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (also known as the Fair Housing Act, or Title VIII), and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, along with the most significant judicial decisions relating to fair housing. With respect to the deficiencies of existing legislation, an investigation is made of the political pressures that prevented the enactment of stronger measures and that have systematically stood in the way of both individuals seeking redress and the agencies charged with upholding the law. The most critical problems identified here are HUD's lack of money and authority to enforce federal law and the consequent shifting of responsibility and financial burden to the states, individuals, and groups whose rights have been violated.?-Sage Urban Studies Abstracts

?Over the past three decades the civil rights movement has succeeded in increasing equality of opportunity for minority groups in American society. However, as Metcalf suggests in this volume, discrimination in the area of housing remains very real and very critical. For, despite the efforts of legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that has led to equality in voting, education, and employment for members of minority groups, housing discrimination in various forms remains rampant, with close to two million incidents of discrimination in housing occurring annually. In this thought-provoking treatment of housing policies and practices within the U.S., Metcalf traces the development of governmental intervention in the housing arena from the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 through the Housing and Community Development act of 1974 . . . Metcalf proposes that his text be used as a catalyst to induce the public to act, and in turn, to influence the courts, administrators, and legislatures at all governmental levels. A detailed and well-written volume. . .?-Choice

"Despite legislation designed to eliminate discrimination in housing, the 'ghettoization' of minorities, especially blacks, has become more severe in the past two decades. An analysis of this intractable problem is given in George R. Metcalfe's Fair Housing Comes of Age."-Cities

"George R. Metcalf's Fair Housing Comes of Age provides a comprehensive, in-depth view of a civil rights field which, except for legal treatises, has been little explored. Metcalf, himself one of the pioneers of fair housing, offers both a historical and analytical perspective on the difficult fair housing problems that have faced the country and the variety of efforts to deal with them. Perhaps the most fascinating feature of this excellent book is Metcalf's account, through interviews and conversations, of many of the people - fair housing lawyers, plaintiffs, community activists - who labored to make possible the fair housing gains over the years. These accounts - objective, dispassionate, and sympathetic - make the book come truly alive."-Martin E. Sloan, Past Director, National Comm. Against Discrimination in Housing

"Over the past three decades the civil rights movement has succeeded in increasing equality of opportunity for minority groups in American society. However, as Metcalf suggests in this volume, discrimination in the area of housing remains very real and very critical. For, despite the efforts of legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that has led to equality in voting, education, and employment for members of minority groups, housing discrimination in various forms remains rampant, with close to two million incidents of discrimination in housing occurring annually. In this thought-provoking treatment of housing policies and practices within the U.S., Metcalf traces the development of governmental intervention in the housing arena from the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 through the Housing and Community Development act of 1974 . . . Metcalf proposes that his text be used as a catalyst to induce the public to act, and in turn, to influence the courts, administrators, and legislatures at all governmental levels. A detailed and well-written volume. . ."-Choice

"In spite of legislation intended to eliminate discrimination in housing, the ghettoization' of American minorities, especially blacks, has become increasingly severe since the late 1960s. This study begins with an overview of federal legislation and a discussion of the Reagan administration's record on the fair housing issue. The survey covers the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (also known as the Fair Housing Act, or Title VIII), and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, along with the most significant judicial decisions relating to fair housing. With respect to the deficiencies of existing legislation, an investigation is made of the political pressures that prevented the enactment of stronger measures and that have systematically stood in the way of both individuals seeking redress and the agencies charged with upholding the law. The most critical problems identified here are HUD's lack of money and authority to enforce federal law and the consequent shifting of responsibility and financial burden to the states, individuals, and groups whose rights have been violated."-Sage Urban Studies Abstracts

About the Author

GEORGE R. METCALF is a regular columnist for the Citizen in Auburn, New York.