The Supreme Court is deliberating on a case that could determine the future of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights era legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in housing. This case is extremely important because housing policies not only affect housing; they also have huge implications on health, wealth, and educational outcomes and opportunities. Our panel of experts will explain this “disparate impact” case and dive deep into a discussion on its significance. Guests include:
- Nikole Hannah-Jones, reporter at ProPublica and author of "Living Apart: How the Government Betrayed a Landmark Civil Rights Law"
- Vince Warren, executive director of Center for Constitutional Rights
- Shanna Smith, president of National Fair Housing Alliance
- Jasmine Rand, civil rights attorney
Want to learn more about the Fair Housing Act, disparate impact, and what’s at stake? Check out the links below:
- Will Justice Scalia Be the Savior of the Fair Housing Act?
- Why a Supreme Court Housing Case Could Have a Broad Impact
- Justice Scalia keeps both sides guessing in Fair Housing Act case: In Plain English
- Scalia to the Rescue? The Fair Housing Act might just find redemption from the unlikeliest justice
Then, race and guns. Jonathan Metzl, director of the Center for Medicine, Health and Society and professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University, joins us for a conversation about the influence of race on how society and law enforcement view people with guns. And we’ll discuss when having a permit isn’t enough. Check out these interesting reads about race and guns in America:
- The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease
- Does race shape Americans' passion for guns?
- The Racial Double Standard on Gun Violence
- The Ferguson Shooting and the Science of Race and Guns
And, the film that has garnered big nominations, big bucks, and big controversy: American Sniper. Does the film glorify American war tactics? Why the cold reception by some? Guests include:
- Earl Catagnus, Jr., assistant professor of History and Security Studies at Valley Forge Military College and veteran of the Iraq War
- Alicia Quarles, E News correspondent
- Jeremy Scahill, investigative reporter for The Intercept and author of "Dirty Wars: The World is a Battlefield."
All that, plus, Bill Belichick’s incredible Saturday afternoon press conference about physics and no justice for Phylicia Barnes.
Be sure to read what we’ve linked above, and watch Melissa Harris-Perry Sunday at 10am ET on msnbc. Join the conversation—share your thoughts about these issues on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #nerdland.