---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The core argument of this book is that…"
description: "\"“The core argument of this book is that African Americans were unconstitutionally denied the means and the right to integration in middle-class neighbo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg"
---

#  The core argument of this book is that African Americans…

![“The core argument of this book is that African Americans were unconstitutionally denied the means and the right to integration in middle-class neighborhoods, and because this denial was state-sponsored, the nation is obligated to remedy it.” quote by Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg)

> ““The core argument of this book is that African Americans were unconstitutionally denied the means and the right to integration in middle-class neighborhoods, and because this denial was state-sponsored, the nation is obligated to remedy it.””

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The book argues that government policies systematically barred Black families from middle‑class neighborhoods, creating lasting segregation that the state must now address.

**In simple terms:** Government kept Black families out of good neighborhoods; the state must fix it.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and support policies that redress segregation.

Themes

housing law racial equity government responsibility

Mood

concerned determined hopeful

Type

policy legal historical

When to use this quote

- urban planning
- legal reform
- community advocacy
- education funding
- public health initiatives

Key Concepts

structural racism fair housing policy remediation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can local governments prioritize reparative housing policies?
- What role should the federal government play in enforcing integration?

A Different Perspective

Implementation may face political resistance and funding constraints.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/)

## Related quotes

> [Social systems have values - arguments baked into their design. For example, Twitter's core argument seems to be, 'Everything should be public, and messages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/social-systems-have-values-arguments-baked-into-their-design-for/)

[Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/)

> [Americans revere both the Constitution and an independent Court that applies the document's provisions. The Court has done many excellent things in our history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bork/americans-revere-both-the-constitution-and-an-independent-court-that/)

[Robert Bork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bork/)

> [If somebody flouts laws unconstitutionally, they will not get support from the BJP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/if-somebody-flouts-laws-unconstitutionally-they-will-not-get-support/)

[Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/)

> [“The report made a science fiction-like case that the president was within his constitutional rights to reinterpret congressional legislation to conform more closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-report-made-a-science-fiction-like-case-that-the-president-was/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [“until the last quarter of the twentieth century, racially explicit policies of federal, state, and local governments defined where whites and African Americans should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/until-the-last-quarter-of-the-twentieth-century-racially-explicit/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“We have created a caste system in this country, with African Americans kept exploited and geographically separate by racially explicit government policies. Although most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/we-have-created-a-caste-system-in-this-country-with-african-americans/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“In 1866, Congress enforced the abolition of slavery by passing a Civil Rights Act, prohibiting actions that it deemed perpetuated the characteristics of slavery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/in-1866-congress-enforced-the-abolition-of-slavery-by-passing-a-civil/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“If federal programs were not, even to this day, reinforcing racial isolation by disproportionately directing low-income African Americans who receive housing assistance into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/if-federal-programs-were-not-even-to-this-day-reinforcing-racial/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [To those African-Americans suffering in our country, I say, what do you have to lose? Vote for Trump, I'm going to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-those-african-americans-suffering-in-our-country-i-say-what-do-you/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [“He (Zerubavel) draws attention to the social influences on perception (what people notice), attention and concern (what people care about), classification (how people categorize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-griswold/he-zerubavel-draws-attention-to-the-social-influences-on-perception/)

[Wendy Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-griswold/)

> [In a lot of movies, African-Americans are either maids or slaves, but that's not all they were. We need to show that. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/in-a-lot-of-movies-african-americans-are-either-maids-or-slaves-but/)

[Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/)

## More by Richard Rothstein

> [“In 1866, Congress enforced the abolition of slavery by passing a Civil Rights Act, prohibiting actions that it deemed perpetuated the characteristics of slavery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/in-1866-congress-enforced-the-abolition-of-slavery-by-passing-a-civil/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“If federal programs were not, even to this day, reinforcing racial isolation by disproportionately directing low-income African Americans who receive housing assistance into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/if-federal-programs-were-not-even-to-this-day-reinforcing-racial/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“We have created a caste system in this country, with African Americans kept exploited and geographically separate by racially explicit government policies. Although most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/we-have-created-a-caste-system-in-this-country-with-african-americans/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“Private discrimination also played a role, but it would have been considerably less effective had it not been embraced and reinforced by government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/private-discrimination-also-played-a-role-but-it-would-have-been/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“until the last quarter of the twentieth century, racially explicit policies of federal, state, and local governments defined where whites and African Americans should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/until-the-last-quarter-of-the-twentieth-century-racially-explicit/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“Today’s residential segregation in the North, South, Midwest, and West is not the unintended consequence of individual choices and of otherwise well-meaning law or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/today-s-residential-segregation-in-the-north-south-midwest-and-west/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“If government had declined to build racially separate public housing in cities where segregation hadn’t previously taken root, and instead had scattered integrated developments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/if-government-had-declined-to-build-racially-separate-public-housing/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“In 1944, the G.I. Bill was adopted to support returning servicemen. The VA not only denied African Americans the mortgage subsidies to which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/in-1944-the-g-i-bill-was-adopted-to-support-returning-servicemen-the/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“At the time, the Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration not only refused to insure mortgages for African Americans in designated white neighborhoods like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/at-the-time-the-federal-housing-administration-and-veterans/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“The challenge is more difficult because low-income African Americans today confront not only segregation but also the income stagnation and blocked mobility faced by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/the-challenge-is-more-difficult-because-low-income-african-americans/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“Some families evicted from the Flats settled in a segregated development, also created by the federal government, that later opened on the west side.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/some-families-evicted-from-the-flats-settled-in-a-segregated/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“One of the most commonly used American history textbooks is The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century. A thousand-page volume, published by Holt McDougal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/one-of-the-most-commonly-used-american-history-textbooks-is-the/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“Just like Supreme Court justices, we as a nation have avoided contemplating remedies because we’ve indulged in the comfortable delusion that our segregation has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/just-like-supreme-court-justices-we-as-a-nation-have-avoided/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

> [“public housing was mostly for working- and lower-middle-class white families. It was not heavily subsidized, and tenants paid the full cost of operations with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/public-housing-was-mostly-for-working-and-lower-middle-class-white/)

[Richard Rothstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

[Explore all 15 Richard Rothstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/)

## More African american quotes

> [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/)

[Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/)

[Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/)

> [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/)

[Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/)

> [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/)

[Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/)

> [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

[Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The core argument of this book is that African Americans were unconstitutionally denied the means and the right to integration in middle-class neighborhoods, and because this denial was state-sponsored, the nation is obligated to remedy it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Rothstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-african-americans-were/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-african-americans-were/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/richard-rothstein-32477_african-american_the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-a_1737701.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The core argument of this book is that African Americans were unconstitutionally denied the means and the…” — Richard Rothstein",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Rothstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rothstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The core argument of this book...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-african-americans-were/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rothstein/the-core-argument-of-this-book-is-that-african-americans-were/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```