Race for Profit - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Examining the History of Segregation in US Cities

The podcast episode features a conversation with scholar activist Kango Yamada Taylor about her book 'Race for Profit' which delves into how banks and the real estate industry have undermined black homeownership. Taylor discusses the profound segregation in cities like Chicago and the interest in conventional mortgages by black homeowners in the 1960s. She describes how, historically, black people were excluded from homeownership opportunities and forced to buy homes through installment payments without actually owning the title. The conversation also highlights the persisting racism in housing and the failure of legislation in bringing about equality.

Connecting Post-WWII Housing Policy to Urban Rebellions

The podcast explores the important connection between post-war housing policy and the urban uprisings of the 1960s. It discusses how housing policies served as containment measures, particularly for African Americans seeking access to credit and homeownership. The interview emphasizes that these policies and programs were created as responses to the rebellions and were inconceivable outside of that context. The concept of predatory inclusion is introduced, highlighting how African Americans were granted access to credit, only to be exploited in a housing market that profited from their struggle for homeownership. The episode emphasizes the enduring racial discrimination and exclusion perpetuated by the real estate industry.

The Incompatibility of Private Sector Involvement and Public Policy Making

The podcast episode argues against the compatibility of private sector involvement and public policy making in housing. It emphasizes that while real estate is driven by profit, public policy is meant to protect the public interest and welfare. The interview sheds light on the significant lack of affordable and quality housing for working-class and poor communities, demonstrating the failure of relying on the private sector to address these needs. The podcast suggests that housing, like other basic necessities of life, should be disconnected from market forces and reimagined as a public service. It challenges the notion that homeownership is the key to social mobility and advocates for a shift toward universal access to essential resources, decoupled from personal wealth accumulation.

Rethinking the Centrality of Homeownership in American Society

The podcast urges a critical examination of the central role of homeownership in American society. It questions the belief that homeownership is synonymous with success and the American dream, highlighting how racial inequality and exclusion are perpetuated through this framework. The interview raises the idea of disconnecting essential resources, such as healthcare and education, from personal wealth and property ownership. It suggests that guaranteeing access to these resources regardless of personal wealth would transform society and reduce hysteria around protecting housing values. The episode ultimately calls for a reevaluation of the significance of property ownership in defining the American way of life.

The New Intellectuals

Race for Profit - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

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Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Examining the History of Segregation in US Cities

Connecting Post-WWII Housing Policy to Urban Rebellions

The Incompatibility of Private Sector Involvement and Public Policy Making

Rethinking the Centrality of Homeownership in American Society

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