Congratulations goes out to Dr. James Baldwin who successfully defended his dissertation titled “Architects of Segregation: Governing the New Urban Mosaic Through Racialized Housing Organizations." Dr. Baldwin is mentored by Dr. Joe Feagin, co-chaired by Dr. Heili Pals, and committee members included Dr. Mary Campbell and Dr. Robert Greer (Bush School).
This dissertation introduces Racialized Housing Organizations (RHOs) as diverse, place-based institutions—such as HOAs, civic clubs, and tenant associations—that manage territorial boundaries and distribute resources within racially segregated urban systems. Rather than being defined by legal form or geography, RHOs are distinguished by how they reinforce or challenge racial inequality through tools like deed restrictions, zoning protests, and coalition politics. In a city like Houston, where zoning is absent and governance is fragmented, RHOs have become powerful actors in shaping land use, development, and neighborhood control. Through a comparative analysis of three RHOs—the Boulevard Oaks Civic Association, the Woodlands, and Freedmen's Town Association—the study presents a typology that captures their strategic diversity, enforcement capacities, and roles in mediating urban change. The findings reveal how RHOs influence urban governance, often reproducing racial hierarchies and reshaping segregation patterns through both symbolic and legal forms of control.
Congratulations, Dr. James Baldwin, for a fascinating dissertation!