Editing Levittown, New York (section)

===Discriminatory practices===
As well as a symbol of the American dream, Levittown would also become a symbol of [[racial segregation in the United States]], due to clause 25 of the standard lease agreement signed by the first residents of Levittown, who had an option to buy their homes. This "[[restrictive covenant]]" stated in capital letters and bold type that the house could not "be used or occupied by any person other than members of the [[Caucasian race]]."<ref name=nyt50>Lambert, Bruce (December 28, 1997) [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/28/nyregion/at-50-levittown-contends-with-its-legacy-of-bias.html "At 50, Levittown Contends With Its Legacy of Bias"] ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref>

Such discriminatory housing standards were consistent with government policies of the time.<ref>Gotham, Kevin Fox (summer 2000) "Racialization and the State: The Housing Act of 1934 and the Creation of the Federal Housing Administration," ''Sociological Perspectives,'' 43/2 p.309</ref> The Federal Housing Administration allowed developers to justify segregation within public housing. The FHA offered mortgages only to non-mixed developments, which discouraged developers from creating [[racial integration|racially integrated]] housing.<ref>Kushner, David (2009) ''Levittown: Two Families, One Tycoon, and the Fight for Civil Rights in America's Legendary Suburb''. New York: Walker & Company. p.43</ref> Before the sale of Levittown homes began, the sales agents were aware that no applications from [[African-American|black]] families would be accepted. As a result, American veterans who wished to purchase a home in Levittown were unable to do so if they were black.<ref name="Kushner 2009, p. 44">Kushner 2009, p.44.</ref><ref name=nyt50 />

William Levitt attempted to justify their decision to only sell homes to white families by saying that it was in the best interest for business.<ref name="Kushner 2009, p. 44"/> He claimed their actions were not discriminatory but intended to maintain the value of their properties. The company explained that it was not possible to reduce racial segregation while they were attempting to reduce the housing shortage. Levitt said, "As a Jew, I have no room in my heart for racial prejudice, but the plain fact is that most whites prefer not to live in mixed communities. This attitude may be wrong morally, and someday it may change. I hope it will."<ref>"When the Niggers Moved into Levittown: a review of David Kushner's ''Levittown: Two Families, One Tycoon, and the Fight for Civil Rights in America's Legendary Suburb''" ''[[Journal of Blacks in Higher Education]]'' 63 (Spring 2009): 80–81</ref> The Levitts explained that they would open up applications to blacks after they had sold as many homes to white people as possible.<ref name="Kushner 2009, p. 44"/> They believed that potential white buyers would not want to buy a house in Levittown if they were aware that they would have black neighbors.

An opposition group was formed, the Committee to End Discrimination in Levittown, to protest the restricted sale of Levittown homes, and to push for an integrated community. In 1948 the [[United States Supreme Court]], in ''[[Shelley v. Kraemer]]'', declared that property deeds stipulating racial segregation were "unenforceable as law and contrary to public policy".<ref>Jones, Michael E. (2004) ''The Slaughter of Cities: Urban Renewal as Ethnic Cleansing''. South Bend, Indiana: St. Augustine's Press. p. 188.</ref><ref name=nyt50 /> Only well after the 1954 racial integration decisions, including ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'', was Levittown racially integrated, and even as late as the 1990 census, only a tiny fraction of the community was non-white.<ref>Hales, Peter Bacon (September 2016) "Levittown's Palimpsest: Colored Skin" in [http://websupport1.citytech.cuny.edu/Faculty/pcatapano/US2/US%20Documents/Levittown%20Documents%20of%20an%20Ideal%20American%20Suburb.pdf ''Levittown: Documents of an Ideal American Suburb'']</ref><ref name=nyt50 /> Starting primarily in the 2010s, Levittown's demographics have been shifting as it has been attracting middle-class [[South Asia]]n and Hispanic residents to the community.