From the 1930s through as recent as 50 years ago, blacks were systematically denied mortgages, insurance, loans, and financial services in particular neighborhoods all over the US, including Los Angeles. Maps were drawn with red lines outlining neighborhoods where investment were to not occur, and this practice was later termed “redlining”. This practice specifically targeted based on demographics and black people. Upper to middle income African Americans were denied loans that were given to lower income whites.
This occurred within the lifetimes of many residents of our neighborhood.
While redlining was outlawed in the 70s, the effects of this practice can still be seen today. Just visit Redfin and look at property prices, or look at school achievement scores, and those maps look exactly like the maps of redlining.
So now I have some questions. Was it racist for me to write this piece of local and recent history for people to learn it? Do people who weren’t targeted by redlining who learn this start hating themselves? Or does learning about things like this help us understand peoples’ economic situations in historically redlined areas?
Tarun Conner
Rossmoor
