Skip to main content

EOTO - The Fair Housing Act of 1968

 The Fair Housing Act of 1968


    Prior to The Fair Housing Act of 1968, African Americans, in addition to many other minority groups, were being denied basic housing rights. These denials resulted in difficulty finding housing in decent, let alone desirable locations. Minority groups struggled when it came to buying and renting homes. Landlords and sellers would raise prices, set different terms of agreement, use different qualification criteria, or simply refuse to allow these people to live in the available houses due to things such as race, sex, or religion. 

    Prior to the passing of The Fair Housing Act of 1968, two previous versions of this law were rejected by Congress. The rejection of the two prior versions lead people to believe that a third try at passing the law would be an incredibly long shot. After the assignation of MLK things really took a turn. On April 11, 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited the discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, and family status. This was the third major Civil Rights Act passed during the 60's, signifying great advancements on the American front in terms of racial equality. The Fair Housing Act was passed with the hopes of creating equality when it comes to the ability to purchase and rent homes. This also was enacted in order to integrate and diversify housing communities, developments, and residential facilities. 

    The act covers most housing structures and types. The only exempt possibilities are owner occupied buildings with less than four units, single family homes sold or rented by an owner without an agent, and housing operated by religious organizations or private clubs that limit occupancy to solely members. Regardless of the exemptions, the act provided security to minority groups ensuring that if they were financially capable and housing was available, they would be able to obtain it without discrimination. 

    The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited many forms of discrimination in regards to buying and renting homes. These prohibitions included things such as refusing to rent to a certain kind of person, setting different terms and conditions based up the tenant or buyer, imposing varying prices due to buyer/renter, using a different set of qualifications for certain people, discouraging a purchase due personal characteristics, and denying a mortgage due to things such as race, sex, or religion. By prohibiting these forms of discrimination it again granted minorities the ability to live in desirable locations with sensible amenities. 

    Even today, there is discrepancies in certain neighborhoods, and even homeownership as a whole between minority groups and whites in America. African American homeownership is significantly lower than that of white people. Just 47% of African Americans own their homes, whereas 75% of white people own their homes. Minorities tend to live in less desirable housing communities, with limited access to luxury amenities. According to the National Housing Conference, 64% of people receiving housing assistance are non-white. So while this Act has made a tremendous impact on minorities, and African Americans in particular, there is still a ways to go. 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

About Me

 Hi! My name is Abby Weiss. I'm from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, right in the heart of the Poconos. I am an Exercise Science, Pre-PA major, and hope to become a physician's assist in the ER or a Level 1 Trauma Unit. My main goals while attending High Point is to make the most every opportunity, do well in my classes, and make lasting friendships. I have played softball since I was 9, and I will be playing on High Point's club team. I also enjoy snowboarding, skydiving, hiking, traveling, and anything that has to do with water, or being outside. I hope to travel to all 50 states, right now I have been to 18 of them! I am excited for what High Point has to offer, and the opportunities I create for myself due to that. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Religious Argument of Slavery

 Deciphering Religious Text's Opinion on Slavery Though widely popularized in the United States during the 1800s, the concept and use of slavery has been around since the biblical times.  While examining the Bible, Torah, and the Quran we’ve noticed multiple contradictions on the topic of slavery. Some sources condemn it, while others condone it.  In Leviticus 25:44-46 of the Bible, it states, “As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly” ( Open Bible ). This source would condone the buying and selling of slaves, one may even s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Speech Theories

Speech Theories      Free Speech is monumental and valuable to the American culture; quite frankly, it makes America, America. After evaluating the eight speech theories used by scholars to describe and understand the premise of free speech in the United States, I was able to conclude which was the most valuable to American society. The eight speech theories are, Marketplace of Ideas, Participation in Self-Government, Stable Change, Individual Self Fulfillment, Check on Governmental Power, Promote Tolerance, Promote Innovation, and Protect Dissent. The theory that I found to be most prominent and valuable, was Individual Self Fulfillment.      The speech theory of Individual Self Fulfillment is described as the ability to express one's individuality and create their own identity. This privilege typically allows people to find others with similar likes, dislikes, and interests. This allows people to make meaningful connections resulting in ha...
Post a Comment
Read more