Interview with Michael Brooks, August 17, 1978

Partial Transcript: --Professor Brooks on April the s--August 17th, 1978.

Segment Synopsis: Brooks quickly gives a run-down of where he went to school and how he found himself at UK.

Keywords: Director of Undergraduate Students; Formal education; University of Tennessee

Subjects: Assistant professor; Education; Fort Worth (Tex.); Ohio State University; Sociology; Texas Tech University; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: This interview is about, uh, housing discrimination and like.

Segment Synopsis: Brooks analyzes housing discrimination from a sociological perspective, explaining at what point denying someone housing becomes illegal.

Keywords: Categorical distinctions; Categorization; Children; Dishonesty; Housing discrimination; Pets; Realtors; Systematic racism

Subjects: African Americans--Housing.; Categorization (Psychology); Discrimination in housing; Ethnicity; Race; Race discrimination.; Racism; Real estate agents; Stereotypes (Social psychology)

Partial Transcript: Okay--(coughs)--you did this HUD study here in Lexington?

Segment Synopsis: Brooks describes a study he and some others conducted in Lexington in regard to housing discrimination.

Keywords: Controls; Housing discrimination; Integration; Oakwood; Research methods; Studies; Transitional neighborhoods; Wage discrimination; Wage gaps

Subjects: African Americans--Housing.; Cities; Discrimination in housing; Finance; Income; Research--Methodology; United States. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Wages

Partial Transcript: On that, uh, high, higher rent, that, uh, that real rich category, is there much discrimination at that level?

Segment Synopsis: Brooks asserts that one of the easiest ways for realtors to discriminate against blacks is by charging higher rental fees.

Keywords: Discriminatory; Higher rent; Lending; Loan qualification; Lower-middle class

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Discrimination in housing.; Loans; Race discrimination.; Rent

Partial Transcript: My next question, uh, how does, uh, housing discrimination lead to prejudices in other areas?

Segment Synopsis: Brooks explains the ripple effect of prejudice and racism caused by housing discrimination.

Keywords: Busing; Primary relationships; Reactionary

Subjects: African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Discrimination in housing.; Neighborhoods; School buses; School integration; Stereotypes (Social Psychology)

Partial Transcript: You mentioned, uh, uh, I think loan discrimination or something.

Segment Synopsis: Brooks identifies yet another problem for blacks that affects finances and housing.

Keywords: Loan discrimination; Multidimensional; Phil Phillips

Subjects: African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Social conditions.; Loans; Race discrimination.

Partial Transcript: What were some of the problems that the testers, or some of the snags that they would run into, black and white discrepancies?

Segment Synopsis: Brooks concludes that there are specific neighborhoods inhabited by a type of person, defined by race and income.

Keywords: Lansdowne; Lower income; Poor neighborhoods; Racial overtones; Treatment; Winburn

Subjects: African Americans--Housing.; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions.; Courtesy; Georgetown (Ky.); Housing projects; Poor; Public housing; Racism; Working class

Partial Transcript: So, would you know--would you have any idea how the blacks are received in these, these neighborhoods?

Segment Synopsis: Brooks considers the natural tendencies of humans in regard to grouping, but also points out that integrated communities are just as natural.

Keywords: Belonging; Brookewood; Complexity; Gallup polls; Living conditions; Open housing; Relationships; UROC

Subjects: Belonging (Social psychology); Categorization (psychology); Communities; Discrimination in housing; Gallup organization; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Resentment; Stereotypes (social psychology)

Partial Transcript: What about the, um, prospects for the future?

Segment Synopsis: Brooks takes note of the various reactions his research received, including the promising discomfort from discriminatory realtors and the positive openness from community members.

Keywords: Concerns; Emotional; Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Open housing; Open housing laws; Positive reactions

Subjects: Discrimination in housing; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Race discrimination.

Partial Transcript: Now talking with you today, you sound like, y'know, like a researcher, devoid of feelings I guess.

Segment Synopsis: Brooks tells what struck his interest in sociology and discrimination.

Keywords: College; Colored people; Dedication; Disasters; Emotional investment; Emotions; Media; Misunderstandings; Parenting; Real estate; Realtors; Water fountains

Subjects: African Americans; Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka; Child rearing; Curiosity; Real estate agents; Riots; School integration