Masters of Inequality

This book fills a gigantic gap in the discussion about America's racial divisions and growing inequality.

In Masters of Inequality, nationally-known journalist Andre Shashaty looks at the historical roots of racial separation in America 50 years ago, when rigid housing segregation tore apart America’s northern cities and set the stage for a series of horrific riots, starting with the Watts in August 1965.

In this cogent and hard-hitting analysis, he explains how visionary leaders warned us that the problems that gave rise to the violence of the era had had to be addressed with massive government intervention in housing and community development. It explains why that advice was not followed, and how we are now paying the price of our inaction with continued concentrations of poverty and ongoing segregation.

Masters of Inequality calls for a renewal of the can-do spirit that allowed us to put a man on the moon and begin to start working toward solving the problems of segregated and blighted communities in the 60s. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the book urges us to fight against the politicians who would prefer that we give up.