The Historical Roots of Housing Segregation

Racial segregation in American housing has its origins in government policies that explicitly promoted segregation through various means. Contrary to the common belief that segregation results from personal choices or economic conditions, it was shaped by laws and policies at all government levels. For example, the federal government used to provide loans in a way that favored white neighborhoods while denying access to African-American communities, severely limiting their ability to build wealth through homeownership. These historical policies not only created segregation but have resulted in enduring disparities in wealth and home ownership that affect African-American families today.