February Feature – Redlining: Past Policy and Present Inequity

Redlining was far from the only policy that shaped geographies of exclusion for Black Americans, but it is one that we can look at on a map today and better understand how it shaped inequity.

Click here to see a StoryMap that begins with a look at present-day segregation and inequity and compares them to the city’s past redlining maps.

When it comes to racial inequity, redlining has become a top-of-mind topic for policymakers and community advocates. Given the strong tie between homeownership and wealth, the history of exclusion caused by redlining offers a tangible way of understanding and potentially rectifying present-day inequities. Furthermore, a body of evidence shows that the ill effects of redlining have long-lasting effects. Researchers from the Chicago Fed, for instance, found that the practice had a causal effect on income, living in a high-poverty area, and credit scores.

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