{"id":{"repo_id":"ku","oai_identifier":"oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/37790"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/ku/oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/37790","repository":{"repo_id":"ku","name":"University of Kansas","base_url":"https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Off-Limits: The U.S. Army’s Campaign Against Housing Discrimination","abstract":"This dissertation explores the U.S. Army’s responses to off-post housing discrimination faced by Black service members from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, arguing that military leaders gradually recognized housing discrimination as a significant impediment to military effectiveness and morale. Initially, the Army’s approach was characterized by a reluctance to confront segregation due to political pressures and concerns about maintaining positive civilian-military relations. Commanders often justified inaction by citing their limited authority and the necessity of sustaining community support, viewing the issue of housing discrimination as a delicate balance between moral responsibility and operational stability.","abstract_html":"This dissertation explores the U.S. Army’s responses to off-post housing discrimination faced by Black service members from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, arguing that military leaders gradually recognized housing discrimination as a significant impediment to military effectiveness and morale. Initially, the Army’s approach was characterized by a reluctance to confront segregation due to political pressures and concerns about maintaining positive civilian-military relations. Commanders often justified inaction by citing their limited authority and the necessity of sustaining community support, viewing the issue of housing discrimination as a delicate balance between moral responsibility and operational stability.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Firmin, Titus Levy"],"institution":"University of Kansas","degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"History","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Bailey, Beth"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-01-01","date_published":"2025-01-01","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:46:29Z","subjects":["civil rights","Cold War","housing","military","politics","segregation"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["https://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32240998"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32240998","href":"https://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32240998","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1808/37790","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Bailey, Beth"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Firmin, Titus Levy"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-04-21T19:40:46Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-04-21T19:40:46Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-01-01"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["University of Kansas"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["History"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["civil rights","Cold War","housing","military","politics","segregation"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["https://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32240998"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1808/37790"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This dissertation explores the U.S. Army’s responses to off-post housing discrimination faced by Black service members from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, arguing that military leaders gradually recognized housing discrimination as a significant impediment to military effectiveness and morale. Initially, the Army’s approach was characterized by a reluctance to confront segregation due to political pressures and concerns about maintaining positive civilian-military relations. Commanders often justified inaction by citing their limited authority and the necessity of sustaining community support, viewing the issue of housing discrimination as a delicate balance between moral responsibility and operational stability.","As civil rights activism intensified during the mid-1960s, Army and Defense Department leaders shifted their stance, acknowledging that the systemic exclusion of Black service members from off-post housing not only compromised their well-being but also undermined military cohesion and readiness. This shift culminated in defense leaders declaring certain neighborhoods off-limits, a significant policy change that allowed Army leaders to take more assertive action against discriminatory housing practices. By leveraging the threat of sanctions against landlords and promoting voluntary compliance, Army leaders facilitated the desegregation of over one million housing units nationwide, illustrating a newfound commitment to addressing racial inequities.","Ultimately, this dissertation emphasizes the complex interplay between military policies, institutional culture, and external pressures that shaped the Army’s evolving responses to housing discrimination. By analyzing the challenges and limitations faced by military leaders, the work shows that although the Army’s efforts were limited, they still played an important role in fighting for equal housing opportunities for Black service members. In doing so, the dissertation sheds light on the Army’s potential to enact meaningful social change within American society, highlighting the influence of military leaders in civil rights during a focal period in U.S. history."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Off-Limits: The U.S. Army’s Campaign Against Housing Discrimination"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Bailey, Beth"],"dc:creator":["Firmin, Titus Levy"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-04-21T19:40:46Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-04-21T19:40:46Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-01-01"],"dc:description.abstract":["This dissertation explores the U.S. Army’s responses to off-post housing discrimination faced by Black service members from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, arguing that military leaders gradually recognized housing discrimination as a significant impediment to military effectiveness and morale. Initially, the Army’s approach was characterized by a reluctance to confront segregation due to political pressures and concerns about maintaining positive civilian-military relations. Commanders often justified inaction by citing their limited authority and the necessity of sustaining community support, viewing the issue of housing discrimination as a delicate balance between moral responsibility and operational stability.","As civil rights activism intensified during the mid-1960s, Army and Defense Department leaders shifted their stance, acknowledging that the systemic exclusion of Black service members from off-post housing not only compromised their well-being but also undermined military cohesion and readiness. This shift culminated in defense leaders declaring certain neighborhoods off-limits, a significant policy change that allowed Army leaders to take more assertive action against discriminatory housing practices. By leveraging the threat of sanctions against landlords and promoting voluntary compliance, Army leaders facilitated the desegregation of over one million housing units nationwide, illustrating a newfound commitment to addressing racial inequities.","Ultimately, this dissertation emphasizes the complex interplay between military policies, institutional culture, and external pressures that shaped the Army’s evolving responses to housing discrimination. By analyzing the challenges and limitations faced by military leaders, the work shows that although the Army’s efforts were limited, they still played an important role in fighting for equal housing opportunities for Black service members. In doing so, the dissertation sheds light on the Army’s potential to enact meaningful social change within American society, highlighting the influence of military leaders in civil rights during a focal period in U.S. history."],"dc:identifier.other":["https://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32240998"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1808/37790"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["University of Kansas"],"dc:subject":["civil rights","Cold War","housing","military","politics","segregation"],"dc:title":["Off-Limits: The U.S. Army’s Campaign Against Housing Discrimination"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["History"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:46:29Z"}