Why American Neighborhoods Are Still Divided Along Racial Lines

Five decades after the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, many metropolitan areas continue to be segregated by race, ethnicity, and/or income. In this talk, Maria Krysan, co-author of Cycle of Segregation, will explain why a nuanced understanding of everyday social processes is critical for interrupting these entrenched patterns of residential segregation. Krysan will discuss findings indicating that everyday social processes have combined to make segregation a self-perpetuating system. She also will describe promising multilevel policy solutions, such as those that pair inclusionary zoning and affordable housing with education and public relations campaigns that emphasize neighborhood diversity and high-opportunity areas.