Question

Please write in paragraph format. Write two paragraph on this statement in your own words: Distinguish between de jure discrimination and de facto discrimination. Why is the latter form of discrimination more difficult to overcome?

Answer 1

De jure refers to circumstances or actions that arise by or within in law; on contrary De facto refers to actions or circumstances that occurs outside of the law. Thus, de jure discrimination is either required or allowed by law and facto discrimination that is not supported or required by law. For example, usually the concentration of African-Americans in various neighborhoods produces neighborhood schools that are segregated in fact, or predominantly black (de facto ), however not by law (de jure ).

The de facto discrimination is more difficult to overcome. Firstly the discriminatory laws enacted by a legislature are most obvious, they can be simply decided on by courts. If there is a law supporting that Blacks are not permitted to use the same facilities as Whites, it is obviously discrimination. The court would pass a judgment that the law was unconstitutional and have it removed. Secondly because de facto segregation results from people choices and behaviors, it is very difficult to tell if or when people are making choices or engaging in behaviors due to racism or due to other reasons. Thirdly de facto segregation is harder to address is that it is ingrained in our social customs, attitudes, and practices. Lastly de facto segregation is harder to combat is that victims of de facto segregation and it's supporters don’t complain as frequently or as vocally as likely in de jure segregation.