Greetings to the Ozarks region!
In the United States, a controversial ethnically exclusive community known as "Return to the Land" has garnered attention and concern due to its potential to normalize supremacist ideologies. The community, led by Eric Orwell, primarily attracts young millennials and Generation Z and is a modern manifestation of ancient prejudices.
The community, which aims to build entire cities, airs reports on cultural diversity from over 40 partner TV stations of SIC on SIC Notícias, Saturdays at 3:30 PM. Approximately 40 people live permanently in this community, but there are hundreds of paying members scattered worldwide.
The community's legal interpretation has not been judged by the courts, but ethnically exclusive communities like "Return to the Land" generally face significant legal challenges. In the United States, racial or ethnic exclusivity in housing is prohibited under federal law, specifically the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act, enforced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), bans discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.
Eric Orwell, the community leader, interprets the classification of private association as allowing them to choose members based on ethnicity or other factors. However, according to civil rights experts, this interpretation may fail in case of any complaint. Historically, some private communities or HOAs have roots in racial segregation practices, but such racial exclusivity is no longer legally enforceable and can result in legal penalties and federal investigations.
The growth of communities like "Return to the Land" raises questions about the limits of freedom of association. Eric Orwell defends the community, claiming that they have control over who their neighbors are to preserve their culture, specifically an American white culture. However, this defense contradicts federal anti-discrimination laws.
The increase in white supremacist incidents in the last four years, as indicated by data from the ACLED organization, is a concern for monitoring organizations like ACLED. The growth and normalization of supremacist ideologies among younger generations is a significant worry.
In the past, efforts to create or maintain housing communities that explicitly exclude or restrict residency based on race or ethnicity have been deemed discriminatory and illegal. The community's practices of exclusion based on ethnicity or other factors have been attempted by other organizations, with legal actions resulting in the complainant winning.
In the community, men perform physical labor while women care for the children full-time. The community's practices have not been tested in court, but Eric Orwell claims that the community is not disrespecting anyone and that they are simply exercising their right to choose their neighbors to preserve their culture.
The growth of communities like "Return to the Land" highlights the ongoing struggle against discrimination and the importance of upholding anti-discrimination laws. The community's legal interpretation and practices remain a subject of concern due to their potential to normalize supremacist ideologies.
- The ethnically exclusive community "Return to the Land" has gained attention not only for its aim to build cities, but also for airing cultural diversity reports on SIC Notícias, as well as their focus on entertainment, lifestyle, and social-media presence.
- Despite their claim that private association classifies them as allowing ethnicity-based member selection, the community's practices of exclusion could potentially contravene general-news headlines regarding federal anti-discrimination laws, specifically the Fair Housing Act in the United States.
- The progression of communities like "Return to the Land" signals the ongoing significance of anti-discrimination laws in countering prejudices embedded in communities, warranting continuous vigilance and the upholding of such laws to curb the normalization of supremacist ideologies.
