Offers Six Lessons on Combating Structural Racism as it Relates to Housing

Syosset, NY – September 12, 2022 – On Friday, September 16, Elaine Gross will end her 21 years as Founding President of ERASE Racism, the civil rights organization based on New York’s Long Island. She will become President Emeritus and a consultant to the organization and will be succeeded by Laura Harding, an advocate, attorney, and public administrator, whose appointment was announced last month.

To share insights drawing on her decades of experience tackling structural racism as it relates to housing, Elaine Gross has written an article, recently published by the Touro Law Review, titled “Denial of Housing to African Americans: Post-Slavery Reflections from a Civil Rights Advocate.” In it, she offers and discusses in detail the following six lessons:

• Lesson One: The Federal Government—Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches—Has Been a Large Part of the Problem of Housing Discrimination and Segregation Against African Americans and Must, Therefore, Be a Large Part of Any Solution.
• Lesson Two: Local Governments Also Play an Essential Role in the Problem of Housing Discrimination and Segregation Against African Americans and Must Be a Part of the Solution.
• Lesson Three: White Supremacy Ideation Shapes Government Policy and Legal Actions, Which Animate and Sustain Structural Racism.
• Lesson Four: Passing and Enacting Laws Is Necessary but Not Enough.
• Lesson Five: Ideological and Political Forces Actively Fight to Keep White Supremacy and Structural Racism in Place.
• Lesson Six: Indelible Impressions of Racial Injustice are Extremely Helpful but Not Sufficient to Create the Impetus for Structural Changes.

To speak with Elaine Gross about these lessons and her experience leading ERASE Racism for 21 years, please contact Henry Miller at hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com or 917-921-8034.