While the concept of social justice can be traced through Ancient and Renaissance philosophy, such as Socrates, Thomas Aquinas, Spinoza and Thomas Paine, the term social justice became used explicitly from the 1840s.
Creed discrimination involves treating an applicant or employee less favorably because of his or her beliefs. Creed is defined as âany statement or system of belief, principles, or opinions.â. Creed is protected at the state and university level. This class is protected by North Carolina General Statute 126-16, which requires that all state departments and agencies give equal opportunity for employment and compensation without regard to creed to all qualified individuals.
There is no federal preemption with respect to protected classes. While indeed the FHA is the law of the land, many individual states (as well as various cities and counties) have adopted their own fair housing laws which include additional protected classes, such as source of income, sexual orientation, marital status, occupation, status as a student, member of the military, and/or age.