Racial bias in housing discovered in Alameda County, CA

[Thom Little]

Black men looking to rent apartments in some parts of Alameda County often receive less favorable treatment than white men with the same financial profile, according to a a fair-housing advocacy group.

The Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity said that black men were discriminated against 26 percent of the time over the course of a seven-month investigation when they tried to rent the same apartments as white men with similar backgrounds.

The group sent four men -- two white, two black -- posing as prospective tenants to 53 different apartments in Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton and Union City.

The black men were less likely to receive follow-up calls and more likely to encounter longer waits to view property than their white counterparts, the group said.


http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/13503086.htm

[Behind the Aegis]

1. And?

This happens all over the place. It is part of the systemic and institutionalized racism that infects our country. It's not just African-Americans, though. Many in this country got a huge kick in the head with Katrina, but still many, can't see racism unless it is in the form of a burning cross. Hell, there are people that think the savage murder of James Byrd, Jr. wasn't a hate crime!

Unfortunately, it isn't just racism that people turn a blind eye and deaf ear toward.

The real question is what do we do to correct the problem?

It is interesting that you posted this, as it should be noted this takes place in "liberal" CA and not the South. Just more proof that the problem in nationwide, and not regional, as some might like to think.