Fair Housing Act
Congress passed this law days after King’s assassination, prohibiting housing discrimination nationwide after years of failed attempts. Landlords could no longer legally refuse tenants based on race. Banks couldn’t deny mortgages to qualified minority applicants seeking homes. Realtors couldn’t steer families to certain neighborhoods based on race. The legislation addressed residential segregation that had concentrated poverty in specific areas. Housing patterns had perpetuated school segregation and economic inequality for generations.
