Which term describes segregation that exists in practice but is not by law?

Which term describes segregation that exists in practice but is not by law?

• A. De facto segregation
• B. De jure segregation
• C. Jim Crow laws
• D. Legal segregation

Answer: (A)

De facto segregation describes segregation that exists in practice but not by law. It comes from real-world patterns—housing choices, school zoning, and economic conditions—that keep groups apart even after laws banning segregation are in place. This is different from de jure segregation, which is enforced by laws. Jim Crow laws are the historical example of de jure segregation, while legal segregation is a general way to refer to segregation created by law. A common real-world illustration is neighborhoods and schools that remain effectively segregated because of where people live and how local funding and boundaries work, not because a law requires it.

De facto segregation describes segregation that exists in practice but not by law. It comes from real-world patterns—housing choices, school zoning, and economic conditions—that keep groups apart even after laws banning segregation are in place. This is different from de jure segregation, which is enforced by laws. Jim Crow laws are the historical example of de jure segregation, while legal segregation is a general way to refer to segregation created by law. A common real-world illustration is neighborhoods and schools that remain effectively segregated because of where people live and how local funding and boundaries work, not because a law requires it.