Final answer:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 became effective on April 11, 1968. It was created to outlaw discriminatory practices in the housing market, but studies indicate that housing discrimination continued for years after its enactment. Efforts to strengthen and enforce fair housing laws have been inconsistent, with different administrations taking varying approaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the Fair Housing Act Became Effective
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing, became effective on April 11, 1968. This Act was enacted as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and aimed to address housing discrimination by preventing redlining and other discriminatory practices in the housing sector. Despite the legal prohibitions established by the Fair Housing Act, evidence from housing audits and studies suggests that housing discrimination against people of color and minorities continued to be a problem, with Black housing seekers being told about 30% fewer available housing units than whites as of 1981.
Housing discrimination persisted into later years with banks and lenders engaging in mortgage discrimination. To combat ongoing issues, the Obama administration implemented stricter rules against segregation in housing, although the Trump administration sought to weaken these advances primarily through lax enforcement. Throughout history, civil rights movements and grassroots efforts have strived to improve the economic and social standing of African Americans and other minorities, aiming for more integrated and equitable communities.