Justice
A Black Man's Journey Through 'Whitopia'
In a TED talk, author Rich Benjamin shares his eye-opening stay in America’s whitest communities.
The topic of racial segregation in America’s residential communities is one that’s increasingly come into the spotlight. Whites, it seems, are increasingly seeking out predominantly white suburban communities. But what, exactly, do they expect to find?
For his 2006 book, Searching for Whitopia, Rich Benjamin traveled 27,000 miles across the U.S. to find the whitest communities in the country. He rented homes there and temporarily became a resident of those so-called “whitopias,” where, as a black man, he’s experienced the good, the bad, and the awkward.