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By: Laura Madariaga
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed many of the racial inequalities and injustices that BIPOC face within systems in the United States. Much of these problems can be traced back to housing discrimination most prominent in the 1930s. Though through the passage of much legislation such as the Equal Housing Act of 1968, which outlawed the racial discrimination in the sale or rental housing and related services, processes which held back people of color seemingly decreased; however, many of the discriminatory underpinnings
remain. According to data from 2016, the average white family is 10 times more wealthier than the average Black family.
The racial wealth gap continues to reign. For many decades, U.S banks decided whether to give out loans based on a system which took into consideration where said individual attempting to purchase a home was living. Furthermore, the system would deem the individual worthy if their current area of living met the requirements based on racial and social class. Areas of living were often classified and were color-coded onto maps: green meant "best", blue meant "still desirable", yellow meant "definitely declining", and red meant "hazardous". Individuals found in the red zone were often Black and minority populations,and were most likely to be denied loans. Such would decrease their ability to purchase a home or renovate one. Much of the process of redlining was meant to discourage the investment into Black communities.
For many Americans, the sole thing that provides a sense of economical safety for future generations, is their home. It is a means of building wealth and ensuring that their communities are invested in as much as possible, due to the fact that property taxes are utilized to fund schools and public projects. If POC and particularly Black Americans, are found within low-income areas, due to the system of redlining, it is without a doubt that they will continue to be found in areas which are underfunded in seemingly every area: schools and other public services. Though redlining came to an end, research has shown that POC and Black Americans continue to be more likely to be denied loans than white Americans; leading to the continuation of lowering property values and contribution of under funding.
As housing discrimination continues on, many housing experts report that there is no identifiable solution, but there are changes which can begin to take place to put an end those including: investing in Black neighborhoods,offering low-interest loans, and helping renters buy homes. To end the continuation of redlining will take recognizing and fully eliminating the system, while understanding its deep roots.
Sources:
https://news.trust.org/item/20200713110849-az14m/
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-is-redlining-united-states
https://studentsforbipoc.org/articles/f/redlining-in-america