1.Even though Americans idealized freedom since the country’s inception, the nation condoned the enslavement of nearly 4 million people up to 1860. What was the main tenets of the American slavery system? What made this system “peculiar?” Why did southerners defend the institution, whether or not they had slaves, rich or poor, or lived on large plantations or small farms? What was the relationship between the masters and slaves? While slave rebellions were rare, why were they important?

2. For this assignment, pick an example from the movie that shows how gentrification/displacement illustrates this point and then describe how fair housing testers discovered discrimination (Fred Freiberg is a tester near the end of the film).  Which one of these instances of discrimination surprised you the most?  Also, why do you think that discrimination is so hard to prove and equal housing rights so hard to enforce?