Like many Americans, growing up I used to think that segregation was ended by the case Brown v Board of Education. When I started playing basketball in highschool and had the chance to see other schools, I quickly realized that that was not the case. Segregation is still around us and shaping our lives at all times even if we don’t see it. Watching “The Disturbing History of the Suburbs” opened my eyes to just how common segregation is in society today. As the video described the concept of redlining and how these policies created a wealth gap, I began to recognize just how large of a role location has on schooling and opportunities for success. He explained how in the 1930’s, FDR created loan programs to help people finance their homes by making colored coded maps indicating neighborhoods that are “good” and “bad.”
Can you guess which neighborhoods the government labeled as good and bad?
If you guessed that African Americans and other minorities were the ones that lived in red zones then you are correct. Throughout the years of 1934-1967, “a whopping 98% of home loans were given to white families.” These redlining policies systematically prevented certain groups from getting home loans. The increase of wealth in those communities led to easier access in purchasing homes, an increase in new businesses, and increased property values making selling easier down the road. The red neighborhoods had the disadvantage and had way less of an opportunity to build wealth. With the advantages white Americans had, they were able to sell their property and pass money down from generation to generation while those minority groups remained trapped in poverty.
Eventually laws were passed to make most discriminatory practices illegal, but the damage had been done. Since many minority families were unable to move up due to the years of discrimination, the neighborhoods are still segregated today meaning that our schools are as well. According to Nikole Hannah-Jones, “…the truth is that black children are more segregated in schools now than at any time since the 1970s.” With this segregation comes a serious gap in school quality and funding. Schools that have a predominantly African American and Latino population tend to have less access to resources and supplies, a lack in quality and advanced classes, and less experienced teachers. We as educators need to be aware of how discrimination and segregation are built into our public schools and work to provide the best education we can for all students.
Resources
“Redlining.” Spotify, 2 Sept. 2020, open.spotify.com/episode/0KI5BRAQdiFbsiNwB7I5cD.
“The Disturbing History of the Suburbs | Adam Ruins Everything.” YouTube, 4 Oct. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETR9qrVS17g.
Hey Brianna, I love the connection you made when you were in school, you didn't notice that schools were still segregated. I would say the same thing as I got more into sports when I realized that most schools are either black students and we were majority white. I also did not realize schools were segregated because my best friend is African American and I never noticed that something would be wrong with us being friends. I was always taught to teach everyone with the same respect and equality. So everyone I hung out with I did not care about the color of their skin or what clothes they had or where they lived. My best friend was actually my twin brother's friend first and he always reminds me of this everyday which makes me laugh. This all to show how parents raise their children and how they act. I was lucky my parents taught me to be nice and respectful to everyone. The most annoying thing with the government, is why make laws that can be twisted or people can sneak around. If we really followed the laws I feel like there would have been more change in society or could have been worse for us.
ReplyDeleteHey Madison! Thanks for taking the time to reply to my blog! I feel like it's a common experience for athletes to see other schools and have realizations about the population that makes them up. I also have a twin brother (crazy haha) and spent a lot of time around different people of all genders, races, and ethnicities. Looking at my diverse friend group, I also assumed that everyone was taught to treat others with respect, but the older I got the more I realized that was not the case. Children and teens learn from the environment around them, especially their parents, so seeing how some people act makes me wonder where they learn those behaviors from. I like what you said about the law and government because I have seen a lot about people finding “loopholes” in laws and using them for personal gain or to hurt others. It’s a shame this is still happening in 2023, but we can still hope for positive change. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteHi Brianna!
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to say you did an amazing job on your blog this week. I like that you include a photo that ties into the module. I also enjoy how you summarized the Adam Ruins Everything video as that was one part of the module that really stuck with me. Like you I also believed that segregation was ended with Brown v. Board, but I had a similar experience as I realized my school was mostly white and other schools were not. The town I grew up in was mostly white as well which I never realized was not normal, that is just how I grew up. Reading through this module I realized the reason for this separation between majority white neighborhoods and minority neighborhoods, and how historical events have had a long lasting impact. The quote you include in your last paragraph is super interesting and I think is something that not many people realize. Your post definitely made me think a lot about the guiding question. Good job!
Hey Grace! I chose to include information from the Adam Ruins Everything video because it also really stuck with me and left me wondering what else I didn't know. I like what you said about not realizing that the population of your school wasn't exactly normal because I think that's how a lot of people are. When you grow up in the same environment all your life, the way of life around you is what seems normal even though it might be completely different than a neighboring district. It isn’t until much later that people realize there is a lack of diversity in their communities. From my past college classes, I can recall that some of my peers felt a “culture shock coming to Texas State because of how different the population was compared to their hometowns. I really enjoyed this module because of the way it taught me about the minority neighborhood separations and the lasting impact these historical events have had om our society. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteHi Brianna, excellent post! When people think of segregation of school, I feel like most would imagine 1960s civil rights movement, photos in black and white, assuming this is a thing of the past, however we could not be farther from the truth. Schools may be integrated by law, but systemically there is still so many barriers in place that keep Black and Brown students from achieving success at the same level as more privileged students who have more access to resources and wealth. Rather than ignore the issue and repeat history, I believe we need to address the problem head on and recognize the imbalances in power and resources in order to actually make progress.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarai! Thanks for taking the time to comment on my blog! I really like what you said about people thinking of "photos in black in white" when it comes to segregation because even when I was writing my blog, my first thought was to include a black and white photo from that era. It's easy to look around and think that segregation was a thing of the past because it is less obvious today, but that does not mean that the problem is fixed. While schools may be integrated, that does not mean that every student is getting the same quality resources or education that they deserve. As you said, schools are integrated by law, but there are still many barriers for minorities that the opportunities for success are so different. I completely agree that we need to stop ignoring the problem and address it head on so we can make progress and ensure that all students are treated fairly.
DeleteHi Brianna, I really enjoyed reading your post it was very informational. Like you I really thought segregation ended do to certain different policies but after going through this module I realized fast that is not the case. It really shows you how this nation is so broken how even know we had these policies enacted more than 50 years ago the problems are still very relevant and still around even today. The system which this country has been built is made to oppress minorities and make it almost impossible to escape poverty this is crazy to believe and even to this day still many banks give higher interest to people of color based solely on that and not their credentials and that is just absurd.
ReplyDeleteHey Adam! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on my blog! I feel that most of our classmates had similar experiences when going through this module. In our younger years of education, we used to only hear about the major cases like Brown v Board of Education and other essential events of the civil rights movement, but never learned about the impact they had or if the changes were actually made. I agree that this shows how broken our nation is and that this shows our need for changes in the education system. I also find it absurd that the way our country is fundamentally built leaves certain groups of people stuck in the poverty cycle. The fact that laws and policies that were used decades ago are still affecting minority families is something that shocks me and makes me look around the world with new eyes. Segregation and discrimination are all around us, even if they aren't as obvious as they used to be.
DeleteHi, Brianna, I appreciated your realization about the persistence of segregation and its impact on our lives today. It's truly eye-opening when we start to recognize the systemic nature of discrimination and how it has shaped our communities. "The Disturbing History of the Suburbs" seems to have had a profound impact on you, and it's important to continue educating ourselves about these issues.
ReplyDeleteYour question about the neighborhoods labeled as "good" and "bad" by the government is a thought-provoking one. It's sad to acknowledge that minority communities were often the ones targeted and pushed into red zones, denying them equal access to opportunities.
Given the disparities caused by redlining, it's crucial to address the consequences that have persisted over time. How do you think we can promote more inclusive housing policies to ensure fair access for all communities? What steps can individuals take to advocate for change and challenge these discriminatory practices?