Redlining was the historical practice of denying loans and services to those who lived in areas that were deemed of low economic value. Minorities (African Americans and immigrants) often lived in these redlined districts and were subjected to inequality, while the wealthy, white, majority were able to afford areas that were deemed safe and desirable. The effects of redlining are visible today in many different areas across the country. Redlining has trapped many communities into concentrated poverty (Jan, 2018).
Manhattan is an especially interesting area because of the history of redlining and, more recently, gentrification. Manhattan was once an industrial powerhouse with many factories within the city. This industrial past and racialized Federal Housing Administration policy led to many neighborhoods to be redlined, such as the lower east side of Manhattan. In the map from 1940 showing redlining, the neighborhoods shown in red were considered the riskiest neighborhoods, cornering those who could not afford to live in the better parts of the city into these areas. Over time, industry moved out of the city and eventually the wealthy moved back, causing rent to increase and leaving those who cannot afford increased rent to move out (Holland, 2016).
Gentrification has become a large issue as minorities who were once forced into tenements are now being pressured out of their homes due to rising rents as the wealthy move back to the city center. Gentrification is not only present in Manhattan and New York City – it is a problem that is occurring all across the country in many large cities.
References
20 neighborhoods in manhattan explained. (2020). Retrieved from https://metropolismoving.com/blog/neighborhoods-in-manhattan-explained/
Holland, S. (2016). Gentrification: Causes and consequences. Retrieved from https://www.elca.org/JLE/Articles/1135
Jan, T.Analysis | redlining was banned 50 years ago. it’s still hurting minorities today. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/03/28/redlining-was-banned-50-years-ago-its-still-hurting-minorities-today/
Manhattan (2006). The New York Times.
Mapping inequality. Retrieved from https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/
Urban displacement project. Retrieved from https://www.urbandisplacement.org/maps/ny
