Redlining in the United States of America was introduced based on racial and economic categorization. In this plan, the government sought to provide homes and mortgages to people in different places. The concept was introduced in 1934 through the National Housing Act and the establishment of the Federal Housing Administration. These policies categorized housing into three: business class, middle class, and low-class people, including the negros (Nardone et al., 2020). The people’s social, economic, and political life has been influenced by redlining. Some regions in the city are well developed and serviced while others are left in wreckages. Redlining greatly influenced housing, policing, schools, and healthcare.
In the United States, schools are funded by the community through property taxes (Nardone et al., 2020). The redlining program categorized people based on economic well-being. Schools located in areas of high-income earners are well-developed and equipped with skilled and well-paid teachers. On the contrary, schools in the red zones of negros are poorly constructed and offer low quality. The urban planning benefited the rich, and the negros in the redlined areas were located near industrial areas with unsafe water and food.
Redlining resulted in great disparities in healthcare among redlined residents. Due to their increased risk, they are prone to health issues. Most people in such residents develop respiratory conditions such as asthma and lung cancer (Nardone et al., 2020). They live in industrial sites, which has exposed them to dangerous fumes and compromised their health. The people also do not have access to quality healthcare due to their poor economic conditions, and facilities are not well equipped.
Redlining has to date, impaired the relationship between the local people and the police. The negro areas, due to their low economic levels, have very high crime rates. People in these places are more likely to be arrested by the police. The police and the community are always fighting due to racial profiling, and people do not trust the justice system (NPR Podcast, 2018). In my home city, evidence of redlining does exist, especially in the context of race. Some homeowners only sell their houses to whites, not people of color.
References
Nardone, A., Chiang, J., & Corburn, J. (2020). Historic redlining and urban health today in US cities. Environmental Justice, 13(4), 109-119.
NPR Podcast. (2018). Housing segregation and redlining in America: A short history [Video]. YouTube. Web.