midterm- race film

Question 1

explain the history of suing for whiteness

Answer 1

Japanese and Indian men wanted to become naturalized citizens, but weren’t able to because the judges ruled them not caucasian and not white in the eyes of the common man. This proves the socio political nature of race. The court ruling greatly affected the Asian and Indian communities in America at the time (civil rights were taken, land was seized, internment camps, immigration restricted).

Question 2

define redlining and its history

Answer 2

Whitest communities that were farthest away from minority communities were deemed best (green) by the federal government
Non-whites got the lowest rating (red). They were redlined
As a consequence, america was suburbanized racially because an integrated neighborhood was not only unstable socially but unstable economically and could pose a financial risk

Question 3

define blockbusting

Answer 3

real estate agent preying on the racial fears of white homeowners to get them to sell their house quickly for less than market value. The homes were then resold to non-whites at inflated prices.

Question 4

explain the role of the GI Bill and Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loans in perpetuating racism (Levittown)

Answer 4

At the end of WWII, living spaces were in high demand because of all the people coming home from war, and veterans.
FHA: their jobs were to provide loans to americans so they could own a home
Down payments decreased which allowed a lot of average americans to buy and own homes.
Suburbia skyrocketed
Levittown: mortgage payments were much cheaper here, which drew in a lot of americans
Modern utilities were included in the Levittown homes
However private companies denied selling the homes to non-white families because it could undermine real estate values

Question 5

describe the long term implications of Levittown

Answer 5

Eventually, race became a major factor in the loan system, as important as the condition of the property