Caucasians Only

Caucasians Only: The Supreme Court, the NAACP, and the Restrictive Covenant Cases provides a deep dive into the landmark legal battles that dismantled racially restrictive housing covenants in the United States. This book explores the Supreme Court's rulings in 1948 and 1953, which invalidated judicial enforcement of property deed restrictions that barred non-Caucasians from ownership or occupancy. It captures the legal strategies employed by the NAACP and other advocacy groups, emphasizing the critical role of interest groups in shaping constitutional litigation. By examining the sociological, political, and historical forces behind these cases, the book offers a rich analysis of how these rulings marked an early triumph in the broader civil rights movement, despite the persistence of residential segregation in practice.

Author C. E. Vann Woodward contextualizes these cases within the larger narrative of American race relations and legal reform. The book highlights how these victories symbolized a turning point in the fight for racial equality, demonstrating both the potential and limitations of court-driven social change. With its focus on legal precedent, the involvement of advocacy groups, and the dynamic interplay between judicial action and societal norms, this work remains a seminal resource for understanding the evolution of civil rights law and its impact on housing equity in America.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1967.