As the nation reflects on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Tennessee is set to celebrate National Fair Housing Month. This April marks an annual observance recognizing the civil rights struggle and the enactment of the Fair Housing Act, which was signed into law in the wake of the tragedy. The Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC), following its tradition, teams up with fair housing advocates and communities to honor a law borne of the civil rights movement and the enduring dream of equality in housing.
In the immediate response to Dr. King's assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson worked quickly to fast-track Congressional approval for a national fair housing bill. Seven days later, on April 11, 1968, the Fair Housing Act became law, aiming to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. "Fair Housing for all, all human beings who live in this country, is now part of the American Way," Johnson stated while signing the act, as per the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.
According to the Tennessee Human Rights Commission announcement, the commission is hosting the West Tennessee Fair Housing Summit on April 29, 2024, at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. The day-long event, which wraps up Fair Housing Month, covers landlord-tenant rights, fair housing investigations, and fair lending, among other topics. It will run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CDT, with in-person attendance set at $100 and online at $50.
Expected to draw diverse attendance, Mayor Paul Young of Memphis opens the Summit, and Roshun Austin, President and CEO of The Works, Inc., is slated to deliver the keynote address. The Summit looks to not only discuss but also propose practical solutions to combat ongoing housing discrimination and inequities. It is a necessary effort, experts say, to meaningfully address the complexities of what's still a hot-button issue almost 60 years after the historic act's passage.
The Tennessee Human Rights Commission upholds this fight against discrimination through the enforcement of both national and state anti-discrimination laws. Committed to the cause, the THRC's partnership with HUD, West Tennessee Legal Services, and the National Civil Rights Museum signals a concerted push towards ensuring housing justice remains central to the narrative of civil rights in America.
