What cities can learn from Seattle’s racial and social justice law

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Serin Houston, Mount Holyoke College and Dan Trudeau, Macalester College

(THE CONVERSATION) The right-wing political campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion policies taking place in several states across the U.S. has called into question the nation’s commitment to achieving racial equality.

In this landscape, Seattle is marking a milestone of sorts – the first anniversary of adopting its Race and Social Justice Initiative ordinance.

This ordinance, signed into law in April 2023, places the Race and Social Justice Initiative under the Seattle Office of Civil Rights and states that all departments in city government are responsible for “implementing change toward ending institutional racism,” which is defined in...