Next month, on April 11th, we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights legislation intent on ending deeply-rooted racial discrimination and segregation.
The Kerner Commission, which was convened by President Lyndon Johnson following riots in cities across the country in 1967, famously concluded: “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white--separate and unequal.”
Following the lead of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who gave rise to the open housing movement with his work in Chicago, the Commission called for: “Opening up opportunities to those who are restricted by racial segregation and discrimination, and eliminating all barriers to their choice of jobs, education and housing” and recommended that the federal government “Enact a comprehensive and enforceable federal open housing law to cover the sale or rental of all housing.”
When we look back 50 years, the times seem archaic and nearly unrecognizable -- black-and-white or barely chromatic photos; a world without the Internet or cell phones; the promise of space travel as revolution rather than routine.
Over these past 50 years, the Fair Housing Act has made significant strides toward combatting discrimination and segregation. Yet, as we look back from that distant time, half a century ago, to our lives today, we see, along with significant advances, a persistent lack of progress on many of the issues that prompted the creation of the Fair Housing Act:
A 2015 study published in the American Sociological Review indicated that “segregation is manifesting itself in other ways — not disappearing.” The study notes that while black-white segregation is declining, and areas no longer are divided into black cities and white suburbs, “segregation between places (e.g., city-suburb or suburb-suburb) may be increasing, even as overall metro-neighborhood segregation declines.”
A December 2017 opinion piece titled “The Resegregation of America” outlined a series of continuing racial disparities in education, healthcare, environmental justice, and wealth accumulation resulting from residential segregation. Referring to education, the article quoted a 2016 report from the Government Accountability Office: “The promise of Brown v. Board of Education is unraveling.”
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act provides us the perfect opportunity to recommit to the ideals that gave rise to important fair housing civil rights protections.
Just as the riots of 1967 fueled by racial segregation and the assassination of Dr. King on April 4th, 1968 spurred the fair housing movement 50 years ago, so too should the lack of progress toward fulfilling those ideals spur our renewed commitment to the fair housing movement today.
We have a history that divides us. It should be our humanity that unites us. This is a moment to recommit to our shared values of creating a community open and inclusive to all.
As the only organization in the state of Oregon whose mission is based solely on the ideals of the Fair Housing Act, the Fair Housing Council of Oregon is doing just that. We are moving ahead strategically to deepen our organization’s commitment to the ideals of the fair housing movement.
Through our recently adopted strategic plan, FHCO is committing to:
lead with racial equity, recognizing the intent of the Fair Housing Act to end racial segregation and overcome the resulting disparities for communities of color;
maintain our work to end housing discrimination and ensure equal opportunity in housing through our enforcement and education and outreach programs;
serve the entire state of Oregon; and,
strive to create equal housing opportunity through our public policy advocacy work.
Our plan, through these key strategies and actions, is for FHCO to be poised for a future that envisions the inclusive communities reflecting the ideals of the fair housing movement and the Fair Housing Act as it turns 50.
Congratulations, Mischa Larkins!
Grand Prize Winner of our 20th Annual Fair Housing Poster Contest
Fifty years have passed since Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's death pushed our country's leaders to sign the Fair Housing Act, making discrimination based on race, religion, and national origin illegal in housing. Events are planned all over Oregon to learn, reflect, and celebrate the passing of this historic legislation that helped change the course of so many lives. Find events here.
