Which of the following practices would NOT be permitted under the Federal Fair Housing Act?

The practice described in the answer is not permitted under the Federal Fair Housing Act because it involves discrimination based on race, which the Act explicitly prohibits. The Fair Housing Act was established to eliminate discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

In this scenario, the owner's choice to rent exclusively to black men clearly violates the Act's provisions, as it constitutes racial discrimination. The law aims to ensure equal housing opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their racial or ethnic background, and practices like the one described undermine that principle.

In contrast, practices described in the other scenarios may have specific exemptions or fall under different rulings. For example, a men's-only club may qualify under specific membership exemptions, and a refusal based on religious beliefs may relate to personal occupancy rules as opposed to broad discriminatory practices. A landlord’s choice not to rent to a family with children could invoke the familial status provision, but under certain limited circumstances, such as in housing designated specifically for older adults. Thus, while they may still raise ethical concerns, they do not carry the same level of violation as the exclusion based on race described in the correct answer.