Richard Rothstein (1) (1943–)

A good book, and a really important topic that doesn't get enough attention. Black people have been put into a severe disadvantage due to governmentally enforced segregation, and it has awful effects that need to be reversed if this country wants to pretend it gives anything resembling a fair shot to all races.

In this book, Rothstein extensively details a pattern of state sponsored segregation, from the federal level, state level, county and cities.

It is an important distinction, because legal cases for forced integration, or damages claimed from segregation, have been struck down on the grounds that the state has not taken part in it, which is obviously and demonstratively false.

The book did get a little long winded at times, repeating case after case where the government had a hand. I understand the point of it, but it wasn't incredibly engaging at times.

At the end of the book, Rothstein suggested ways of moving forward, and promoting integration. I was a bit disappointed by this section. I wish it were a little more fleshed out. I also wish it weren't so pessimistic. It felt like most of the suggestions were immediately struck down with "but this would never happen in today's political climate". If there's no chance of positive change happening, what's the entire point of this book? It felt a bit defeatist, and a bit of a bummer, and what should have been an optimistic way to end a long bummer of a book.
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