The illegal practice of pushing a minority member to or away from certain neighborhoods is known as what?

The term that describes the illegal practice of pushing a minority member to or away from certain neighborhoods is known as steering. This practice involves guiding prospective homebuyers or renters towards or away from specific neighborhoods based on their race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics. Steering is considered discriminatory and violates fair housing laws, which aim to ensure equal housing opportunities for all individuals regardless of their background.

In the context of real estate, steering can manifest when real estate agents or brokers provide information selectively, showing minority clients predominantly homes in neighborhoods that are historically associated with their ethnic background while discouraging them from looking into more diverse or affluent areas. This undermines the concept of equal opportunity in housing and further entrenches segregation.

The other terms mentioned have distinct meanings: redlining refers to the discriminatory practice of denying financial services in certain areas based mainly on the racial or ethnic composition of those areas; blockbusting involves inducing homeowners to sell their properties at a loss by instilling fear that minority groups will be moving into the neighborhood; and down-zoning is a land-use planning term related to changing the zoning of a specific area to allow for less intensive development. Each of these practices has implications for fair housing and discrimination but specifically, steering directly addresses the manipulation of housing choices based on