The Unhidden Truth: De Facto Segregation In San Pedro

All who were raised in San Pedro love the town and recognize it as a wonderful place to grow up. Most of us are proud to say, “I am from Peedro. Some say the town was ordained to prove to the world that equality and respect for each other are important to local order.

But like all places, San Pedro is not perfect. It seems that the ugly, hurtful stain of de facto segregation remains in the city (that is separation of persons by fact rather than by legally imposed requirement). In the matter of San Pedro Afro-Americans continue to be denied access to apartment rentals south of Sixth Street. More particularly, in the southwest parts of the city.

I was recently informed of two Afro-American persons who applied for rental property in suspected de facto segregated areas of San Pedro. Both, who were outstanding candidates regarding yearly income, secure employment, no criminal histories and they had respect in the community, had submitted applications but reportedly received no responses from apartment representatives.

In the early 1960s, there were many protests regarding de facto segregation in San Pedro and after South Bay Communities, meetings were held, policy changes were suggested and ultimately in 1965, the Jess Unruh Civil Rights act was passed (California Civil Code 51A). The new law was equal for anyone who simply desired access to an apartment or other real property being made available regardless of race or other factors.

The passage of the Unruh Act caused lawsuits in San Pedro and a modicum of change to take place in opening rental property to all. But unfortunately, rental property providers have found legal methods to sidestep codified law. Thus rental discrimination laws were