The Supreme Court rules that racially restrictive covenants, which prevent people of color from owning or renting homes in certain neighborhoods, are unenforceable in court. However, discriminatory practices continue informally.
Grassroots activism, led by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and countless others, challenges systemic racial injustice, including segregation in housing. Organizations like the NAACP and Urban League advocate for fair housing rights.
President John F. Kennedy signs an executive order banning discrimination in federally funded housing. This marks the federal government’s first step toward addressing housing inequality.
HUD is established as a federal agency under President Lyndon B. Johnson to oversee national housing policy and address housing inequities.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) launch the Chicago Freedom Movement, focusing on housing discrimination in Northern cities. The campaign draws national attention to unfair practices like redlining and blockbusting.
President Johnson’s Kerner Commission investigates the causes of urban riots and concludes that systemic racism, particularly in housing and employment, is a major factor. The report calls for sweeping reforms to combat segregation.
Dr. King’s assassination sends shock waves across the nation, sparking riots and protests. The tragedy galvanizes public and political support for civil rights legislation.
Just days after Dr. King’s assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) into law. The Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, and religion.