Equality First, for the Sake Term Paper

Thus, it also does not answer the three questions above in a positive fashion. The only thing that can be said is that for the short-run "it is a refuge from cleavage and strife" or the "best that we can do for the time being." That is not saying very much, surely.

It appears, then, that of the different ways to meet these three questions noted above, that it may be best to find ways to reduce disparity by changing public policy in areas such as housing and home ownership. The paper "The changing determinants of Inter-racial home ownership disparities: New York City in the 1990s" and "A dream deferred or realized: the impact of public policy on fostering black homeowners in New York City throughout the 1990s" by Lance Freeman and Darrick Hamilton, both show how the "prescription for change" is not one taking one action, but several: 1) Combating racial discrimination in housing through vigorous enforcement of anti-bias laws; 2) Continuing and strengthening policy reforms such as the Community Reinvestment Act and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act; and 3) Improving financial literacy and education and information on access to credit.

The authors admit that "For both blacks and Hispanics, their characteristics account for the majority of their home ownership deficits." Thus, "even if" all of the disparate treatment were eradicated, there would still remain huge gaps in home ownership. Yet, they conclude "it may be possible" as seen with the positive results in the 1990s, "to take steps to avoid compounding racial and ethnic inequality through housing policy, which in turn could lead to a positive cycle of wealth accumulation for these groups."

Once again, such conclusions by Freeman and Hamilton are not anything to cheer about. Policy changes in housing may bring some changes, but the disparity still remains. Unfortunately, that is the conclusion of all these approaches. Regardless of what approach is taken, the racial and economic disparities remain. As with anything else, one has to look at the best case scenario. It appears that policy change is this best case. First, it does not appear to increase animosity between the races; second, it seems to be more than just putting a bandage on a festering sore -- people actually have a home to call their own for the first time; and third, it does not demean or patronize people. These homeowners are proud of their new housing and the improvements in their lives. They do not believe they are being handed something for nothing. In the United States, racial inequality continues to exist, even 50 years after the Brown decision. Incidents of police brutality and racial profiling show that civil rights enforcement remains a necessity. Although there is a sizeable black middle class, the number of poor blacks is just as prominent. Controversies among both whites and blacks on the way to resolve this situation continue. Unfortunately, it is clear that the goal of racial equality remains an ongoing struggle within….....