Prior to Shelley v. Kraemer, racial segregation was enforced in multiple ways. There were other devices used by individuals and associations that discriminated minorities from purchasing property. Racially restrictive covenants (RRC’s) were only part of a bigger issue that resulted in racial segregation. Two of the more common methods, apart from RRCs, to enforce racial segregation was Nuisance law and Zoning. Zoning Ordinances Nuisance law was not effective enough but zoning ordinances was influential in segregating the black and minority population. Zoning ordinances prohibited minorities from purchasing or acquiring property from a specific part of the city. The idea behind it was to “preserv[e] the more desirable residential neighborhoods,” …show more content…
Governmental support for zoning ordinances was especially popular in St. Louis where Shelley v. Kraemer took place. Governmental policies in St. Louis contained zoning rules that classified white neighborhoods as residential and black neighborhoods as commercial or industrial and other rules that segregated minorities (Making Ferguson, pp. 2). These policies and zoning practices caused the conditions of many neighborhoods occupied by minority population to deteriorate and led to White families associating them with slum characteristics. Supreme court decision of Buchanan v. Warley established that zoning ordinances was unconstitutional and illegitimate use of state power. The Court stated that racial minorities are protected by the equal protection clause under the 14th amendment from states actions that discriminate solely based on race (Buchanan v Warley, pp. 5-7). The states were no longer able to participate in enforcing residential segregation therefore, individuals and home association turned towards Racially restrictive covenants as a new mean to racially …show more content…
Space limitation was created due to growing population in a confined geographical district. The conditions of the districts started to deteriorate and it was influencing the housing market and the ability of minorities to economically advance and purchase property (INVISIBLE WALLS, pp. 3-4). However, this did not stop the migration of black individuals and families to the urban area causing overpopulation amongst them raised demand for houses. White and Black population started circumventing the RRCs system due to the increasing demand for houses and the higher price offered by minorities. Better job opportunities that raised the economic status of minorities and their growing population resulted in the properties subject under RRCs to be sold to the minority population. The white homeowners were not happy with this progress and responded with lawsuits (INVISIBLE WALLS, pp.