Housing Discrimination

About the series

For much of the last century, San Diego County was racially divided. In some streets and neighborhoods, people of all races and religions lived side by side. In many others, only white people were allowed to purchase or rent homes. inewsource found more than 10,000 real estate documents across San Diego County with clauses that excluded people of color and other groups, such as Jews and Hindus. But in extraordinary cases, homebuyers could break through this racist system. Here are two such stories.


This investigation was published in partnership with National Public Radio. It was also featured by inewsource’s local partners.

First-hand Accounts

YouTube video

Leon Williams and Tom Hom, two former San Diego city councilmembers, share their personal experiences of buying homes in neighborhoods with racist housing covenants.


Series Reporting

DISCOVER

LISTEN
EXPLORE