The Resurgence of Segregation

Introduction: A Disturbing Return to Division

Segregation was supposed to be a relic of the past—a dark chapter in history that ended with the Civil Rights Movement. Yet, today, we are witnessing a rollback on desegregation efforts, with policies and practices quietly (and sometimes overtly) reintroducing divisions along racial, economic, and social lines.

From school resegregation to housing discrimination and voter suppression, modern segregation is taking new forms. This isn’t just a step backward; it’s a threat to democracy, equity, and social cohesion. In this article, we’ll explore where segregation is resurfacing, why it matters, and—most importantly—how we can combat it.

1. School Resegregation: The Quiet Undoing of Brown v. Board

The landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling declared school segregation unconstitutional. Yet, today, many public schools are more segregated than they were in the 1970s.

Why Is This Happening?

The end of court-ordered busing and desegregation plans.

School district gerrymandering that reinforces neighborhood segregation.

The rise of charter schools, which often lack diversity requirements.

Example:

A 2022 report from the UCLA Civil Rights Project found that over 60% of Black and Latino students attend schools where most students are non-white, while white students remain in predominantly white schools.

What You Can Do:

✔ Advocate for inclusive zoning policies that promote diverse school enrollment.

✔ Support organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund fighting for equitable education.

✔ Push for federal and state funding to incentivize integrated schools.

2. Housing Discrimination: The New Redlining

Though redlining (the discriminatory denial of loans to Black neighborhoods) was outlawed in 1968, modern housing policies still perpetuate segregation.

Modern Forms of Housing Segregation:

Exclusionary zoning laws that block affordable housing in wealthy areas.

Algorithmic bias in mortgage approvals favoring white applicants.

Gentrification displacing communities of color without equitable reinvestment.

Example:

A 2020 Brookings Institution study found that homes in majority-Black neighborhoods are undervalued by $48,000 on average compared to similar homes in white neighborhoods.

What You Can Do:

✔ Support fair housing organizations like the National Fair Housing Alliance.

✔ Demand transparency in AI-driven mortgage approvals to prevent bias.

✔ Advocate for mixed-income housing policies in your city.

3. Voter Suppression: The Silent Segregation of Democracy

Voting rights are under attack, with laws designed to disenfranchise minority voters—echoing the poll taxes and literacy tests of the Jim Crow era.

Tactics Used Today:

Strict voter ID laws that disproportionately affect Black and Latino voters.

Closing polling places in minority neighborhoods, leading to long lines.

Purging voter rolls under questionable pretenses.

Example:

After the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act in 2013, states like Georgia and Texas passed laws making it harder for minority communities to vote.

What You Can Do:

✔ Volunteer as a poll worker to help keep voting accessible.

✔ Support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

✔ Educate others about their voting rights via groups like When We All Vote.

4. Economic and Digital Segregation: The Hidden Divides

Segregation isn’t just physical—it’s also economic and digital.

Key Issues:

"Banking deserts" where low-income (often minority) areas lack access to banks.

The digital divide, where poor and rural communities lack high-speed internet.

Algorithmic discrimination in hiring, lending, and policing.

Example:

A Stanford study found that job-search algorithms show high-paying jobs less frequently to women and minorities.

What You Can Do:

✔ Support community banks and credit unions in underserved areas.

✔ Advocate for universal broadband access.

✔ Push for audits of biased AI systems in hiring and lending.

Conclusion: How We Can Stop the Rollback on Desegregation

Segregation never truly ended—it evolved. But just as activists in the 1960s fought for change, we can resist this regression.

3 Immediate Actions You Can Take:

1️⃣ VOTE in local and national elections—segregation thrives when turnout is low.

2️⃣ Support organizations like the ACLU, NAACP, and Fair Housing Advocates.

3️⃣ Speak up in your community—attend city council meetings, write op-eds, and demand equitable policies.

The fight against segregation isn’t over. Will you join it?