"Richard Rothstein explodes the myth that America's cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation -- that is, through individual prejudices, income differences, or the actions of private institutions like banks and real estate agencies. Rather, The Color of Law incontrovertibly makes it clear that it was de jure segregation -- the laws and policy decisions passed by local, state, and federal governments -- that actually promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day."--Jacket.

Preface -- 1. If San Francisco, then Everywhere? -- 2. Public Housing, Black Ghettos -- 3. Racial Zoning -- 4. "Own Your Own Home" -- 5. Private Agreements, Government Enforcement -- 6. White Flight -- 7. IRS Support and Compliant Regulators -- 8. Local Tactics -- 9. State-Sanctioned Violence -- 10. Suppressed Incomes -- 11. Looking Forward, Looking Back -- 12. Considering Fixes -- Epilogue --Appendix : Frequently asked questions -- Author's note and acknowledgements.