I know so many of you, like myself, are incredibly troubled by what we have seen on the news over the last few days (and honestly, weeks, month's, and years). Another senseless murder, followed by anger, violence, and rioting. It's an exhausting story that has played itself out far too often. While what is happening to the businesses and property in Minneapolis is inexcusable, it behooves us all to understand why people feel so helpless that they react in this manner.
The natural focus will turn to constant examples of unfair policing, but we shouldn't ignore the effect unfair housing practices played in creating impoverished neighborhoods comprised mostly of people of color. Racial segregation in housing may be the biggest contributor to the increased poverty, higher rates of crime, and lower health outcomes we see in our black communities. Your initial inclination may be to point to racism of real estate agents or homeowners not wanting to sell their properties in good neighborhoods to African American's, or the white flight to the suburbs. Though this is part of the story, it was in fact the governments concerted effort to prevent African Americans from accessing housing throughout our metropolitan cities that created the makeup of our cities today.
With the resources below, a clear picture is painted of the US Governments role in enacting policies designed to deliberately segregate America. Policies like preventing home builders from selling homes to African Americans if they used federal loans to fund construction.
The Color of Law - Book
A book by Richard Rothstein on the government's role in racial segregation in our metropolitan cities. The long-term economic impacts of the government's actions are still being felt and seen today.
Fresh Air - The Color of Law Podcast
An interview in 2017 by Terry Gross with the author overviewing the policies and practices that went into implementing racial segregation in housing.
Code Swith - A 'Forgotten History' of How the U.S. Government Segregated America (Strong Language Warning)
A video and podcast from the NPR Code Switch team on housing segregation and redlining. A good portion of the podcast also speaks specifically to Georgia and how the cityhood movement is entrenching this history of segregation.
Systemic Racism Explained - Video
Great video that explains the generational effects of systemic racism through the lens of two young boys living a few streets apart.