On Thursday, November 13, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) host a forum to examine policies that led to the events in Ferguson.
Richard Rothstein, contributing writer to The American Prospect and EPI Research Associate, and Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF Director-Counsel, discuss how a century's worth of government housing, zoning, and employment policies are at the root of the tension that erupted in Ferguson after Michael Brown's death. The discussion is not limited to Ferguson, however, as these policies were not unique to that St. Louis suburb; they were, in fact, implemented throughout the nation.
Rothstein and Ifill discuss the comprehension and public policies that we need to erase the long, continuing shadow of government-promoted and enforced discrimination. Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect and co-founder of EPI, moderates.
In a timely article for The American Prospect's Fall issue and in a report for EPI, Richard Rothstein explains how long before the shooting of Michael Brown, official racial-isolation policies primed Ferguson for this summer's events. The story isn't just one of white flight, but of government actions that consigned blacks to inferior conditions.
"Although policies to impose segregation are no longer explicit, their effect endures. When we blame private prejudice and snobbishness for contemporary segregation, we not only whitewash history but avoid considering whether new policies might instead promote an integrated community," writes Rothstein.
To learn more, watch the video of the event above or read Rothstein's compelling article.
