blockbustings

noun
  1. The practice of inducing property owners to sell their homes by exploiting racial fears, typically by suggesting that people of a different race are moving into the neighborhood.
  2. Usage: historical; offensive practice; primarily U.S. context; often used in discussions of housing discrimination and segregation
  3. The plural of blockbuster; highly successful movies, books, or other entertainment products that achieve massive commercial success.
  4. Usage: informal; common in entertainment and publishing industries

Examples