Hansberry vs. Lee

Hansberry v. Lee is a landmark Supreme Court case from 1940 that addressed racial discrimination in housing. The case involved a Chicago neighborhood where a restrictive covenant prevented Black families from buying homes. When African American family members purchased a property in that area, white residents, including Lee, sought to enforce the covenant to keep them out. The Supreme Court ruled that the covenant was unenforceable as it violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. This decision helped lay the groundwork for future civil rights advances by affirming that racially discriminatory practices in housing were unconstitutional.