Legal Battle Over Whites-Only Community in Arkansas

A lawsuit challenges the legality of a controversial development in Arkansas known as Return to the Land. This community requires members to be white and heterosexual, which some argue violates fair housing and civil rights laws.

Return to the Land spans 160 acres in the Ozark Mountains. The founders claim they comply with the law, but a recent lawsuit will scrutinize their argument. The development is exclusively for white individuals, a restriction under intense legal scrutiny.

Last year, Michelle Walker, a real estate broker from St. Louis, learned of the community while watching the local news. The report highlighted a real estate opportunity in a familiar vacation spot for Walker and her family. The land in question sold for around $1,000 per acre, significantly below market value.

The community restricts membership to applicants who fit specific racial and sexual orientation criteria. Walker, upon applying, was rejected, leading her to file a lawsuit on grounds of discrimination. Her case refers to civil rights laws established in 1866.

Media attention focused on the small town of Ravenden, Ark., where the community is located. Founders plan to construct a network of similar compounds nationwide, starting with this pilot project. Their development includes housing facilities, a community center, and farming areas. Entry is barred for Jews, Black people, homosexuals, and anyone not of white European descent.