Race & Color

WHAT IS RACE AND COLOR DISCRIMINATION?
Race discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because they are of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race (such as hair texture, skin color, or certain facial features).

 

Discrimination based on color occurs when a preference or bias based on skin color is a determining factor when providing access to housing opportunities. Those discriminating based on color use it as a visual indicator of their assumptions about a person’s intelligence, social status, education, income, and/or other characteristics. Color discrimination can occur between individuals of the same race and/or ethnicity, as well as between persons of different races/ethnicities. 
Race/color discrimination also can involve treating someone unfavorably because the person is married to or associated with a person of a certain race or color.
Discrimination based on race and color is protected by the Fair Housing Act and state and local fair housing laws, however, discrimination based on race and color persists today. 
 

 

EXAMPLES OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE/COLOR:

• Saying an apartment has already been rented, even though it hasn’t been

• Providing different terms, rates, rules, conditions, or fees based on skin color

• Having more stringent background requirements for people of color or making assumptions about someone’s eligibility to rent based on their race or color

• Not returning a prospective tenant’s call or email because they have a racially identifiable name or speech pattern

• Only showing a person of color apartments in areas where other people of color live

• Telling white home seekers where people of color usually live

• Only showing people of color apartments in a poorer neighborhood, even though they can afford something more expensive

• Refusing to repair an apartment because of the tenant’s race or color

• Making racist comments about the food you cook or music you listen

• Refusing to allow or harassing a visitor because of their race or color

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EXAMPLES OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN REAL ESTATE:

• Redlining: a discriminatory practice that consists of the systematic denial of services such as mortgages, insurance loans, and other financial services to residents of certain areas, based on their race or ethnicity.

• Steering: deliberately guiding loan applicants or potential purchasers toward or away from certain types of loans or geographic areas because of race

• Appraisal Bias: undervaluation of homes owned by African-Americans in the appraisal process.

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IT IS ILLEGAL FOR YOUR HOUSING PROVIDER OR NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE OR COLOR, TOO:

• Harass you by repeatedly making racist comments

• Damage your property

• Threaten you

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If you believe you have been the victim of housing discrimination because of your race or color, please contact us for assistance.

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