Segregation in New Jersey Today

Myron Orfield, author of Metropolitics and Douglas Massey, co-author of American Apartheid and a panel of local leaders will present on opportunities in New Jersey to advance a racial inclusion and economic opportunity agenda.

With a new Administration in Trenton, socially progressive courts and the rapidly changing demographics of the suburbs in many legislative districts, Orfield will argue that now is the time to advance meaningful reform around racial segregation and concentrated poverty.

After 8 years of the Christie Administration, Democratic leaders are lining up to take on a myriad of pressing issues. Segregation is not likely to be high on the priority list. Despite this, Orfield will argue that the deep levels of racial and economic segregation in New Jersey by neighborhood and schools will prevent New Jersey from fully recovering economically and advancing socially. It will hamper economic growth, drive up taxes, undermine local government and polarize the electorate. Moreover, it will continue to doom hundreds of thousands of families and children to poor schools, dangerous neighborhoods and jobless places with little opportunity.

While many policy makers will see this issue as politically fraught, Orfield will argue the opposite. The demographics of suburbs and the growth of diverse communities and school districts has changed the political landscape and the dynamics of what was once seen as a black versus white, city versus suburbs issue. Orfield will provide new demographic data on schools and housing along with political data that will help make this argument. He will discuss how legal precedent, progressive courts and past legislative action has created a unique and powerful infrastructure to address issues of housing and schools together. 

The event will take on April 24, 2018 at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Princeton University, Robertson Hall, Bowl 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Space is limited so please register in advance. You can register here.