Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co., 392 U.S. 409 (1968)
Jones v. Alfred H.
Does 42 U.S.C. § 1982 prohibit private racial discrimination in the sale of property?
42 U.S.C. § 1982 provides that all citizens of the United States shall have the same rights in every State and Territory, as enjoyed by white citizens thereof to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property.
The Court held that 42 U.S.C. § 1982 does prohibit all racial discrimination, private as well as public, in the sale or rental of property, thus granting Jones the right to sue Alfred H. Mayer Co. for racial discrimination.
For law students, Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co. is crucial for understanding the power of federal civil rights legislation under the Thirteenth Amendment. This case serves as a landmark in extending civil rights protections to cover private actions, highlighting the broad scope of the legislative intent behind the Reconstruction Amendments. It underscores the enduring role of the judiciary in interpreting civil rights laws and establishes a precedent for later civil rights litigation and legislation, including the Fair Housing Act of 1968.