‘The Color of Law’

The popular story—and the story encouraged by our government, including the Supreme Court—is that more than a century of segregation in the United States, since the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which banned actions that perpetuated the characteristics of slavery, was the result of private prejudices and choices. But is that really supported by evidence? In his important nonfiction work, The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, Richard Rothstein argues that while societal bigotry had an effect on residential segregation in the country, it would have had far less of an impact if not for policies and acts of federal, state, and local governments. Actors whose intentional and official acts caused segregation included housing authorities, courts, and police officers, among others. For instance, federal housing policies included prohibitions against the sale, resale, or rental of homes in post–World War II suburban developments to Black people. Through a careful and comprehensive examination of history, legislation, and judicial decisions, Rothstein makes a compelling case that African Americans were denied the right to integrate into middle-class neighborhoods, in violation of the Constitution—and that since the state sponsored the conditions for this, a remedy by the state is required.

AUTHOR RICHARD ROTHSTEIN IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN FREEMAN

When: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Format: Freeman will lead a free hour-long conversation with Rothstein, which will include a reading by the author and questions from the audience. Produced by Alta Journal for streaming on Zoom.