Which term describes segregation mandated by law?

• A. De Jure Segregation
• B. Reverse Discrimination
• C. De Facto Segregation
• D. Segregation by Custom

Answer: (A)

Mandated by law is described as de jure segregation. This term means laws explicitly require racial separation, such as separate schools or facilities enforced by statutes or official policy. A classic example is the Jim Crow era, where legal provisions enforced segregation in many public services and institutions. In contrast, de facto segregation happens in practice through patterns in housing, employment, or social behavior without explicit legal mandates. Segregation by custom refers to informal social norms that push people apart without any law backing them, and reverse discrimination describes policies that are argued to disadvantage a particular group rather than laws enforcing separation.