LSP 200 RACE, ETHNICITY, AND HOUSING

LSP 200 RACE, ETHNICITY, AND HOUSING

FALL 2016

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FINAL ASSIGNMENT 

In their book American Apartheid, Massey and Denton state that “…as long as U.S. cities remain segregated…the United States cannot claim to have equalized opportunities for black and white” (148)  In other words, the only way to alleviate the multiple racial disparities found between whites/anglos and other racial-ethnic groups is to work towards residential integration.  The purpose of the final paper is to consider that conclusion, using arguments and evidence available from the assigned readings and class discussions.

Obviously in a short paper you cannot consider the full breadth of this issue.  Some of the issues or questions you might consider in your paper include the following, though you are not limited to these questions; nor are you expected to include all of them.

• How has the nature of the problem changed, if at all, since Massey & Denton wrote their book? If it changed, in what ways did it do so?  How do these changes affect their conclusion regarding integration?
• What are the relationships between racial segregation and class segregation (e.g., concentrated poverty or affluence)? How does that relationship affect their conclusion regarding integration?
• What are (some of) the consequences of residential segregation? How serious are the problems associated with residential segregation?
• Are there principles or values that should help guide policy decisions in this area—e.g., equality of opportunity, private property rights, meritocracy, social justice? How do these principles relate to their conclusion regarding integration?

You are expected to take a clear position regarding their conclusion that we must work toward racial integration in order to create equality of opportunity, which would probably require government policies to encourage integration.  You must, though, also include support for your position, through empirical evidence, logical argument, normative considerations, or some combination.

• Empirical evidence refers to specific facts, results of studies, and so forth that might document the results of a program, demonstrate the effects of segregation, and such. An example would be Massey and Denton’s and others’ use of the dissimilarity index to document the levels of segregation for different groups and at different times.  Examples can help explain or illustrate your point(s) but examples alone are weak support for an argument, so combine them with other types of support.
• Logical arguments might be an argument regarding the infeasibility of a particular public policy – e.g., the likelihood that the policy would be sufficient to contribute to integration or that it would be accepted as a public policy. Another logical argument might focus on the implications of certain facts or research results for public policy aimed at integration, or the need for any such public policy.
• Public policy always involves values or norms. You could use one or more values to support your position (which will also require some logical argument).  Such an argument should explain what the particular value(s) are (e.g., a definition of the value), how it relates to Massey and Denton’s conclusions regarding integration, and its implication for public policy.

The final paper should include the following elements:

• A clear statement of the issue(s) you consider in your paper;
• Discussion of individual, institutional, and structural racism/discrimination as they relate to your issue;
• Inclusion of relevant assigned readings and class discussions with appropriate references to specific books, chapter, articles, etc.;
• Consideration of arguments and empirical data in assigned readings and class discussions relevant to your position;
• A clear statement of your conclusions about the importance of integration and the need (or not) for a public policy approach to integration; and
• A bibliography in APA format of the sources you used.

You may use additional sources beyond the assigned readings, if you wish, but are not required to do so.  All sources in your paper must be identified in the bibliography.  And using additional sources does not eliminate the need to demonstrate familiarity with the assigned readings.