Brick, Grass (&) Steel

Climate change doesn’t strike evenly — Brandon Derman explains how the crisis exposes deep inequities and what it means for communities on the frontlines.

Why is environmental justice essential to resilience? Dr. Robert Bullard reveals the history, the fights, and the urgent need for equity in every community. View materials from Dr. Bullard's recent report, "Green Light to Pollute in Texas... Again."

Building on Richard Rothstein’s “The Color of Law” and the discussion about urban renewal with Dr. Mindy Fullilove, who wrote “Root Shock”, and Brentin Mock, this discussion with Richard Rothstein and Leah Rothstein explores how “Just Action” offers a tangible framework for communities to dismantle segregation, influence urban planning and public policy decisions, and build more equitable, integrated communities. If you would like to read more about the topics discussed in this episode arc, please see information below for purchasing the books referenced. Also, you can subscribe to Leah Rothstein’s SubStack platform at https://substack.com/@justaction.The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated AmericaRoot Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurts America, and What We Can Do about Itbookshop.org

Dr. Mindy Fullilove and journalist Brentin Mock explore how urban renewal became “urban removal,” the trauma it caused, and its lasting echoes in today’s redevelopment.

In this episode, Richard Rothstein reveals how segregation in American communities was not the result of personal choice or private prejudice, but the outcome of deliberate government policy and industry practice. From housing and zoning laws to mortgage lending and urban planning, he explains how the architecture of inequality was built — and why its legacy still defines our neighborhoods today.

Featuring Eric Klinenberg, sociologist and New York University professor, whose groundbreaking book Palaces for the People examines how libraries, parks and other social infrastructure can strengthen democracy and reduce inequality. Klinenberg’s research and commentary have been featured widely in The New Times, The New Yorker, and other leading outlets.