Katina Smith’s Post

This is a powerful conversation.

The Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS® is bringing Richard and Leah Rothstein to Greenville on April 18 to discuss their book “Just Action: The Color of Law” as their 2024 Fair Housing event. Racial segregation characterizes every metropolitan area in the U.S. and bears responsibility for our most serious social and economic problems. We’ve taken no serious steps to desegregate neighborhoods, however, because we are hobbled by a national myth that residential segregation is de facto—the result of private discrimination or personal choices that do not violate constitutional rights. The Color of Law demonstrates, however, that residential segregation was created by racially explicit and unconstitutional government policy. Just Action describes how we can begin to address this, providing dozens of strategies local groups can pursue to redress segregation in their own communities. By starting with achievable local victories, we can build a national movement that can remedy our unconstitutional racial landscape. This event is open to the public and you can register at https://ow.ly/4TZT50QRntA. #greenvillesc #yeahthatgreenville #affordablehousing

To dismantle systems understanding the mechanics of how they were created and sustained is critical. Solutions often come through truth-telling, healing and collective action centered in justice and equity. #fairhousing #housingjustice #publicpolicy #systemschange

Similar to other major U.S. cities, a long history of residential discriminatory practices in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA (Seattle MSA) and surrounding area have limited Black access to homeownership and equity accumulation. 54years after the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act (the Fair Housing Act) and nearly 50 years after residential redlining was outlawed, access to homeownership remains a challenge for Blacks in the Seattle MSA. Check out National Association of Real Estate Brokers' first in-depth examination of our region’s ugly history of redlining, restrictive covenants, and lending discrimination and its lasting impact on Black households today. Download your copy here: https://buff.ly/3uv920d #homeownershipgap #civiccommons #nareb #wwr #realtist #washingtonstate #blackamerica #shibareport #blackhomeownership

The Legal Creation of Raced Space: The Subtle and Ongoing Discrimination Created Through Jim Crow Laws - PDF: https://lnkd.in/g5iggPXN Jim Crow Laws codified discriminatory practices and provided the legal framework necessary for the unequal treatment of African Americans. This inequality was pervasive, and extended to the way individuals lived and functioned within society. Discrimination always has a direct impact on architecture, because architecture is used to manifest physically differential treatment. During the Jim Crow Era, the legal system set up an environment that, when combined with the creation of certain uses of space within architectural designs and outcomes, produced an incredibly segregated society. Jim Crow Laws defined property rights and restricted the use of architectural space for both White and African Americans. As a result, these laws intentionally, yet subtly, created a kind of "raced space." This segregated use of space ensured that White Americans were treated in a superior manner not only in their neighborhoods, but also in schools, restaurants, and a myriad of places in their communities. This in turn created persistent and pervasive discrimination against African Americans. Although the courts finally struck down Jim Crow Laws,' the physical consequences of the Jim Crow Era endure throughout American society. #Racism #Ethnicity #Colorblindess #reactionformation #Plessy #Brown #SCOTUS #AmericanStudies #residentialsegregtion #segregation #whitesupremacy #JimCrow #JimCrowLaws #democracy

#onthisday On July 2, 1777, #Vermont became the first territory in what would become the #UnitedStates to abolish slavery. This historic decision was made when Vermont adopted its constitution, which included a clause that prohibited slavery. The Vermont Constitution stated that no adult should be held in servitude unless bound by personal consent or by law for the payment of debts, fines, or similar obligations. This landmark move was significant as it predated the abolition of slavery in the United States by nearly a century and set a progressive precedent for other states and territories. #Vermont's action was part of a broader context of increasing abolitionist sentiment in the late #18th #century, driven by Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality. The state's decision highlighted the growing resistance to the institution of slavery and laid the groundwork for future legislative and social efforts to end slavery throughout the United States.

Black-led Organizations Taking Up Space in Planning Urban Planning has long been criticized for its lack of diversity, resulting in exclusionary policies and urban design that fails to reflect the needs and experiences of Black community members. But change is on the horizon! On January 22, 2024, an old friend of mine, Leighana Mais will be participating in a panel discussion featuring the thought-provoking mini-documentary "Nothing for us, without us". This documentary delves deep into the systemic racism embedded within planning practices across Canada. I am thrilled to see Black-led organizations examining past injustices and collaborating on actionable solutions to shape our neighborhoods for the better. This event is a critical opportunity for us to challenge the status quo and pave the way for more inclusive and equitable urban planning and design in Toronto. If you're in Toronto, I strongly encourage you to register and attend this groundbreaking event. Let's come together to shake up the way we approach urban planning and policy development in Toronto and beyond. Together, we can create equitable cities that truly serve and uplift our Black community. Register to attend here: https://lnkd.in/eqAxMRgc Check out the mini-documentary trailer here: https://lnkd.in/ecZ9KXk4 #UrbanPlanning #Equity #Inclusion #CommunityEngagement #Toronto #SocialJustice #ChangeMakers

Council buildings for community decision-making, including Senate, assembly, synagogue, and Greek bouleuterion, hold usually no more than five hundred participants. The personal interaction between them is of the utmost concern. They often have galleries for observer seating. 📍Philadelphia City Hall, Pennsylvania pg. 189, The Art of Classic Planning #councilbuildings #philadelphia #classicplanning #traditionalarchitecture

Race and color discrimination in housing is still extremely prevalent. Sometimes in more or less obvious ways. "The seller wanted to pull out of the deal. Why? “You could hear the fear and disbelief in his voice,” Dr. Baxter said, recalling what her broker told her next. “He said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but she doesn’t want to sell the home to you, and it’s because you’re Black.’” The seller, Jane Walker, 84, is white." These experiences that black and brown individuals and families have to go through can be traumatic and life-changing. This is why Fair Housing and education surrounding housing discrimination is important, and why we do the work that we do. Read the article to find out more about this story. #FairHousingForAll #FairHousingAct #fairhousingrights #FairHousing https://lnkd.in/g3Hszxgp