Confront the class divide
An ideal defined by a symbol of oppression.
The perfect American lawn looks like a symbol of hard-won middle-class success, but its history tells a different story—one of empires, slave labor, and segregationist policy that still shapes our country today.
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" id="1256433547" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 2.65 16.7 L 5.025 16.7 L 5.025 10.375 L 12.175 10.375 L 12.175 16.7 L 14.55 16.7 L 14.55 7.75 L 8.6 3.3 L 2.65 7.75 Z M 0 19.35 L 0 6.425 L 8.6 0 L 17.2 6.425 L 17.2 19.35 L 9.525 19.35 L 9.525 13.025 L 7.675 13.025 L 7.675 19.35 Z M 8.6 10" fill="rgb(255, 215, 184)" height="19.35000000000001px" id="Am4RD_Q13" transform="translate(3.4 2.3)" width="17.19999999999999px"/></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" id="3428457871" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 2.65 19.1 C 1.9 19.1 1.271 18.846 0.763 18.338 C 0.254 17.829 0 17.2 0 16.45 L 0 0 L 2 2 L 3.65 0.325 L 5.325 2 L 7 0.325 L 8.65 2 L 10.325 0.325 L 12 2 L 13.65 0.325 L 15.325 2 L 17 0.325 L 18.65 2 L 20.65 0 L 20.65 16.45 C 20.65 17.2 20.396 17.829 19.888 18.338 C 19.379 18.846 18.75 19.1 18 19.1 Z M 2.65 16.45 L 9 16.45 L 9 11.1 L 2.65 11.1 Z M 11.65 16.45 L 18 16.45 L 18 15.1 L 11.65 15.1 Z M 11.65 12.45 L 18 12.45 L 18 11.1 L 11.65 11.1 Z M 2.65 8.45 L 18 8.45 L 18 6.1 L 2.65 6.1 Z" fill="rgb(255, 215, 184)" height="19.10000000000001px" id="NpCcMu6Kz" transform="translate(1.675 2.225)" width="20.650000000000006px"/></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" id="901156108" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 0 13.25 L 0 10.6 L 6.7 10.6 L 6.7 13.25 Z M 7.3 9.15 L 5 6.85 L 6.85 5 L 9.15 7.3 Z M 10.65 6.7 L 10.65 0 L 13.3 0 L 13.3 6.7 Z M 16.6 9.15 L 14.75 7.3 L 17.05 5 L 18.9 6.85 Z M 17.2 13.25 L 17.2 10.6 L 23.9 10.6 L 23.9 13.25 Z M 9.363 14.538 C 8.654 13.829 8.3 12.967 8.3 11.95 C 8.3 10.933 8.654 10.071 9.363 9.363 C 10.071 8.654 10.933 8.3 11.95 8.3 C 12.967 8.3 13.829 8.654 14.538 9.363 C 15.246 10.071 15.6 10.933 15.6 11.95 C 15.6 12.967 15.246 13.829 14.538 14.538 C 13.829 15.246 12.967 15.6 11.95 15.6 C 10.933 15.6 10.071 15.246 9.363 14.538 Z M 17.05 18.9 L 14.75 16.6 L 16.6 14.75 L 18.9 17.05 Z M 6.85 18.9 L 5 17.05 L 7.3 14.75 L 9.15 16.6 Z M 10.65 23.9 L 10.65 17.2 L 13.3 17.2 L 13.3 23.9 Z" fill="rgb(255, 215, 184)" height="23.89999992847447px" id="RlZXWrTrS" transform="translate(0.05 0.05)" width="23.89999992847447px"/></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" id="2737270275" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 0 12.95 L 0 10.3 L 19.6 10.3 L 19.6 12.95 Z M 0 7.8 L 0 5.15 L 19.6 5.15 L 19.6 7.8 Z M 0 2.65 L 0 0 L 19.6 0 L 19.6 2.65 Z" fill="rgb(255, 215, 184)" height="12.950003051757903px" id="cExGSizp1" transform="translate(2.2 5.5)" width="19.599999999999994px"/></svg>)