How to Prevent Racial Segregation

Some individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became famous for their anti-segregation efforts.

The Constitution of the United States is supposed to provide equal rights to all Americans. However, in reality, racial segregation can and does occur, placing individuals at a disadvantage. Racial segregation is the intentional or unintentional separation of different races, such as having blacks and whites in different schools. Racial segregation starts with individuals but is often reflected in larger aspects of a community, such as churches or law enforcement. It is unlikely that all racial segregation can be erased in the United States, but you can take steps to initiate cultural change that can at least reduce the amount of segregation present.

Instructions

1. Distribute educational media about racial segregation and its negative impacts. Examples could include fliers on bulletin boards, pamphlets or direct mailings and email campaigns. Communities may not be aware of how segregation propagates or is harming them unless you can show them with anecdotal or statistical data.

2. Start schools and businesses directly at the border of segregated communities, not within.

3. Sponsor or advertise legislative initiatives against segregation, such as proposals to fund better road systems between traditionally segregated neighborhoods.

4. Give seminars or other classes on the Fundamental Attribution Error. The FAE is the tendency of people to attribute features to a person's internal traits rather than environmental factors. This translates to prejudice when a person stereotypes an entire race based on the features. For example, you might attribute African-Americans' lower average rates of academic success to lower cognitive ability instead of a lack of educational resources. FAE is a fuel for segregation that blinds people to changes that could benefit different races.

5. Provide financial and other incentives for individuals to use resources from other communities. For example, establish a business exchange program where members of one community could receive discounts at their local businesses for visiting businesses in neighboring communities.

6. Provide recognition to those who take steps against racial segregation, such as a community civil service award. This may help the community see anti-segregation as positive.

Tips & Warnings

• Get others to join your anti-segregation cause, then register together as a non-profit organization. This will entitle you to tax-exempt status and give you a more professional, organized look to the community.

References

• University of Michigan: Causes of Housing Segregation
• Imagine 2050: Can You Avoid Segregation?