The 'de facto' segregation of the northern states was a shadow of the reality of the legally enforced segregation of the south.
No, it was because white people would refuse to share busses and schools with blacks. The free market responded by giving what most of its customers demanded.
Anyone thinking racism and free markets are mutually exclusive, should read this:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sgabriel/racism.htmThis is a perfect example of why I got out of this type of field. It lends itself to endless argument which can always be co-opted to support whatever someone wants it to. It is an attempt to apply logic to a situation with too many unknown variables. Where is the data to support his arguments? Is data useless? Is the fact that African Americans were enslaved for hundreds of years a data point he is using?