How did the federal government reinforce racial segregation in American communities and neighborhoods in the 1950s?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
1. The federal government gave developers financial subsidies to build affordable single-family homes and offered Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans and income tax deductions to homebuyers.
2. These programs benefited white working-class and middle-class families, but did little to help minorities.
3. The FHA and lending banks maintained policies known as red lining, which designated certain neighborhoods off limits to racial minorities.
4. When Americans of color did move to the suburbs, it was usually to segregated communities.
5. The Housing Acts of 1949 and 1954 granted funds to municipalities for urban renewal.
6. Although intended to revitalize cities, urban renewal actually accelerated the decay of inner cities and worsened conditions for the urban poor, many of whom were racial minorities.