Shelley v. Kraemer: Landmark Supreme Court Decision
May 3rd, 1948
May 3rd, 1948
How Long Ago?
76 years, 10 months, 12 days ago
Location
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Category
Social Movements & Civil Rights
People
- M. H. Shelley
- L. K. Kraemer
Links & References
Tags
Shelley v. Kraemer: Landmark Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Shelley v. Kraemer addressed the enforceability of racially restrictive covenants in property transactions. The ruling came as a result of a case involving the Shelley family, who were denied the purchase of a home due to a covenant prohibiting sales to black individuals. The Court determined that while private discrimination could occur, state courts could not enforce racially restrictive covenants, making such agreements unenforceable in the context of the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.
Case involved a racially restrictive housing covenant.
Supreme Court ruled against enforcing such covenants.
Decision rooted in the Equal Protection Clause.
Set precedent for future civil rights legislation.
What Happened?
Shelley v. Kraemer was a significant Supreme Court case that sought to address the legality of racially restrictive covenants in real estate transactions. The case arose when the Shelley family attempted to purchase a home in St. Louis, Missouri, but were met with opposition due to a deed restriction that prohibited the sale of property to individuals of color. The homeowners, who had sold the house to the Shelleys, invoked this covenant in an attempt to block the sale. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, exploring the intersection of private property rights and racial discrimination. In a unanimous decision, the Court ruled that while private parties could create racially restrictive covenants, state courts could not enforce them under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling effectively rendered such covenants legally unenforceable, influencing housing practices and civil rights movements in the coming decades.
Why Does it Matter?
The ruling in Shelley v. Kraemer was pivotal in challenging systemic racism in housing practices across the United States. It marked a crucial step toward dismantling legalized racial segregation in housing, and while it did not completely eliminate discrimination in real estate, it set a legal precedent that would impact future civil rights legislation. The decision highlighted the role of the Supreme Court in addressing civil rights issues and reinforced the idea that state involvement in enforcing racial discrimination was unconstitutional.
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