Beginning in the 1800s, people began writing clauses into property deeds that were meant to prevent all future owners from selling or leasing to certain racial groups, especially Black people. These racial covenants spread like wildfire throughout the US, making cities more segregated and the suburbs more restricted. Kevin Ehrman-Solberg and Kirsten Delegard explore the legacy of these practices. [Directed by Sofia Pashaei, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Jarrett Farkas].

Kevin Ehrman-Solberg and Kirsten Delegard: The dark history of the suburbs

The dark history of the suburbs

Post-WWII suburban expansion in the US was marked by racial exclusivity, epitomized by Levittown's 'Caucasians only' policy.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 banned racial covenants, yet their legacy lingers, fueling today's housing inequality and segregation.

Racial covenants once legal, shaped US suburbs by barring minorities from owning homes, fostering wealth gaps and segregation.