TED-Ed: The dark history of the suburbs | Kevin Ehrman-Solberg and Kirsten Delegard

The video explores the history and impact of racial covenants in the United States, starting with the Simpsons' experience in Minneapolis in 1909. These covenants were legal agreements that restricted property ownership based on race, leading to widespread segregation. The video discusses the spread of these covenants, their role in the development of suburbs, and the phenomenon of white flight. It highlights the challenges faced by communities of color, including redlining and industrial development in their neighborhoods. Despite being banned in 1968, the legacy of racial covenants persists, contributing to ongoing racial disparities in homeownership and neighborhood segregation.

What was the primary purpose of the first racially restrictive covenant established in Minneapolis?

• To promote community development

• To racially restrict property ownership

• To encourage diverse neighborhoods

• To increase property values

Which organization promoted racial covenants in their underwriting manual?

• The US Federal Housing Administration

• The National Association of Realtors

• The Department of Urban Development

• The American Planning Association

What was the main reason for the phenomenon known as 'white flight'?

• Preference for urban living

• Seeking racially homogeneous areas

• Better job opportunities

• Desire for larger homes

What practice involved banks refusing to lend money to people purchasing property in neighborhoods of color?

• Zoning

• Gentrification

• Redlining

• Suburbanization

What was a common environmental impact on neighborhoods of color due to industrial development?

• Increased green spaces

• Better air quality

• Higher rates of pollution

• Improved public transportation

In what year were racial covenants finally banned under the Fair Housing Act?

• 1975

• 1982

• 1968

• 1954

What percentage of white families in the US owned their homes as of 2020?

• 90%

• 60%

• 44%

• 74%