Attorney Deborah Archer, President of the ACLU and a professor of law at New York University, has shed light on how transportation infrastructure in the U.S. perpetuates racial inequality. Her national bestseller, “Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality,” details how racism adapts and finds new forms even after legal segregation ends. Archer argues that the physical layout of American cities, particularly the interstate highway system, was designed to enforce racial division.

The interstate highway system, built in the mid-20th century, cut through thriving Black neighborhoods, tearing apart vibrant communities and pushing Black residents out. Archer explains, “Highways were routed directly through these neighborhoods, serving as physical barriers to prevent Black people from moving into white neighborhoods.” This infrastructure not only destroyed communities but also entrenched racial segregation, leaving lasting scars that communities still grapple with today.

Archer’s book emphasizes the deliberate choices that created “good” and “bad” communities, reinforcing a narrative of racial division that persists. “Many people take these divisions for granted, seeing them as natural outcomes rather than the result of specific, intentional policies,” she says. By normalizing racial segregation, these policies created conditions that limit opportunity in Black and brown neighborhoods, while fostering prosperous communities for whites.

The impact of such infrastructure decisions extends beyond physical barriers. It shapes the availability of public services and economic opportunities, reinforcing disparities in education, healthcare, and employment. Archer’s research highlights the need to view transportation infrastructure not just as a neutral tool but as a powerful agent of social engineering that has profound racial implications.

To address this legacy, Archer calls for a shift in focus from civil rights law to the built environment itself. This means examining how highways are routed, which neighborhoods receive reliable public transit, and how urban planning can promote equity and inclusivity. “Undoing the legacy of racial division requires understanding the role that infrastructure plays in perpetuating inequality,” Archer asserts.

By naming and understanding the history of racial division in transportation infrastructure, communities can begin to rebuild and organize for a more equitable future. The road ahead involves not just resistance but also proactive measures to ensure that the built environment supports, rather than hinders, the aspirations of all communities.

Originally reported by Rolling Out