Contributed by Marlee Breakstone
Did you know that, in addition to being a Civil Rights Movement leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. also was a fierce advocate for fair housing?
Both in his youth and his travels as a civil rights leader, King witnessed systemic segregation in neighborhoods nationwide and saw Black Americans routinely excluded from opportunities to live in safe and sufficient housing situations. He knew all people were equally deserving of access to the housing that they need, recognized that persistent housing segregation throughout the U.S. perpetuated racial injustice, and resolved to fight for access to safe and reliable housing for all Americans.
After years of contentious debate and dedicated advocacy, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations. The act strengthened voting rights for people of color and the desegregation of schools but failed to address housing discrimination and its impacts.
In 1967, King’s “The Other America” speech at Stanford University called for federal fair housing legislation to prevent discrimination and advance equity and unity nationwide. Though King was not alive to witness the Fair Housing Act of 1968 pass, he likely would have celebrated this milestone. This critical legislation expanded on the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, and family status. In 1988, Congress amended the act by adding handicap and familial status to the list of protected classes. Almost all states have enacted similar or identical statutes.
CAI rejects illegal discrimination in housing and favors the availability of adequate and appropriate housing for all. To truly eradicate housing discrimination nationwide, advocacy must happen at every level. While shaping state and federal legislation is a critical component of this work, so is local advocacy. We all must help educate our communities about the history and impact of housing discrimination and implore our neighbors to join us in the pursuit of equality.
Throughout his life as an advocate and leader, King often emphasized the interconnection between race, poverty, and housing. In his honor, we remember that the dream for racial justice and equality goes hand in hand with the fight for fair housing.
“There is a need for fair housing laws all over our country. … And the only way this problem will be solved is by the nation taking a strong stand, and by state governments taking a strong stand against housing segregation and against discrimination.” —Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., “The Other America” speech
Marlee Breakstone is senior manager of government and public affairs at CAI.
>>Learn how to promote diversity and prevent discrimination in your community through CAI’s Diverse and Inclusive Communities Guide and advocate for policy change with CAI.
