A Development for Whites Only Tests Fair-Housing Laws
A rural housing development in Ravendale, Arkansas, is drawing national attention—and legal scrutiny—for its controversial residency requirements. The community, called Return to the Land, spans 160 acres and is actively seeking new settlers, but with a major condition: applicants must be white and heterosexual.
Founded by two men who claim legal protection under exemptions for private associations and religious groups, the community enforces a strict screening process to vet potential residents. Their stance, however, is facing backlash from civil rights advocates and legal experts.
“Federal and state law, including the Fair Housing Act, prohibit housing discrimination based on race, period,” said ReNika Moore, director of the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU. “Repackaging residential segregation as a ‘private club’ is still a textbook violation of federal law.”
One of the founders, 35-year-old Eric Orwoll, defends the approach, suggesting now is the time to test legal boundaries amid a shifting cultural and political climate. “If we’re going to fight this battle—and it’s a battle that’s going to be fought at some point—it better be now,” he said, referring to recent anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts at the federal level.
The New York Times story, written by Debra Kamin, details a visit to the community, including interviews with residents and a tour of Orwoll’s office, where she noted a copy of Mein Kampf was discreetly turned around to hide its title from a photographer.
The Arkansas attorney general is currently investigating the community’s practices, setting the stage for what could become a high-profile legal battle that tests long-standing anti-discrimination protections in the U.S.
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