The Color of Law: Online Book Discussion

Tuesdays: July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28 & August 4
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm CDT
Zoom (Registration required)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

In this groundbreaking history of the modern American metropolis, Richard Rothstein, a leading authority on housing policy, 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 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.

Join Urban Abbey and Tri-Faith for a five-week book discussion about this untold story to learn how this process of de jure segregation began with explicit racial zoning and explore how the history of redlining still impacts our cities and communities today.

Co-hosted by Urban Abbey and Tri-Faith Initiative.

The Color of Law is available for purchase at Urban Abbey.

Facilitator: Jeff Spiehs & Mike Helgerson
Jeff Spiehs is the co-leader of Urban Abbey’s Justice Team and is actively engaged in the civic life of Omaha, serving on various boards in the community. He is a member of Leadership Omaha and was the Public Policy Chair for the Greater Omaha Young Professionals. Jeff also works at the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and his efforts focus on affordable housing, racial equality, and increasing access to public transportation. He has also worked on the Regional Fair Housing Assessment, The Heartland Equitable Growth Profile, and the Fair Housing Equity Assessment. Jeff lives with his wife, Melany, and their three girls, Anna, Lauren, and Caroline.

Mike Helgerson is the Transportation and Data Manager at the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency.