Introduction

Housing discrimination has a long history in the United States, especially in how it has affected African American communities. Understanding redlining, a practice that denied mortgages to certain neighborhoods based on racial demographics, is important for anyone who wants to learn about the roots of modern housing inequalities. This post explores the origins and impact of redlining on African Americans. It also discusses how legal battles, community solutions, and other factors shaped where people could live and the resources they could access. By breaking down these historical events, students can see why housing discrimination remains significant today.

Understanding Redlining

Redlining was a system that labeled certain neighborhoods as risky for mortgage lending. Often, these were neighborhoods with large African American populations. The term “redlining” refers to the red lines drawn on maps to indicate areas that banks should avoid.

Historical Context

This practice rose to prominence in the mid-1900s, especially after the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) released its Underwriting Manual (1938). The manual guided insurance companies, banks, and mortgage lenders on where to approve loans. Unfortunately, it often recommended denying loans to areas that were not all-white. As a result, many African Americans were forced to rent homes or pay higher rates for housing. This was part of a broader system of housing discrimination that limited African Americans’ access to home ownership.

Example: The FHA’s Underwriting Manual

The FHA’s Underwriting Manual included race-based guidelines. It discouraged integration and encouraged “sameness” in each community. Therefore, if a neighborhood had both white and African American families, the manual labeled it less desirable. This made it harder for families of color to secure loans. Redlining shaped neighborhood demographics across the country and helped fuel residential segregation for generations.

The Impact of Housing Discrimination on African Americans

Housing discrimination had serious consequences for African Americans, especially when it came to building wealth. In the twentieth century, homeownership became a vital way to invest and pass on assets. However, many African American families were shut out of this process because banks denied them mortgages or required higher down payments.

• Long-Term Effects on Wealth Accumulation
  • Generational wealth is created when parents pass down real estate and other assets to their children. However, redlining often prevented African Americans from purchasing homes in certain areas at fair prices. This meant that many missed opportunities to build equity over time.

• Example: Denied Mortgages Stalling Economic Growth
  • For instance, families who could not get mortgages had to pay monthly rents rather than building value in their own homes. Meanwhile, white families who could buy homes gained equity, which could be used to pay for college or other investments. This disparity contributed to a long-standing wealth gap between African Americans and other groups.

The Legal Fight Against Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination did not go unchallenged. Numerous organizations and activists rallied to end these unfair practices. Their advocacy eventually led to major legal changes.

The Role of the NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) worked tirelessly to oppose redlining and other unfair practices. They filed lawsuits, organized protests, and raised awareness. By highlighting the injustice of housing segregation, the NAACP aimed to protect civil rights for all.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968

After years of pressure, the U.S. Congress passed the Fair Housing Act in 1968. This law prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Key provisions included guidelines that made it illegal to refuse to rent or sell a home because of someone’s race. Although this act was a crucial step forward, it did not erase the lasting impacts of decades of redlining.

The Social Consequences of Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination went beyond the ability to buy a home. It affected nearly all aspects of life in African American neighborhoods.

• Health Disparities and Limited Resources
  • Restricted neighborhoods often lacked adequate grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and even clean water. Therefore, people living in these areas experienced worse health outcomes over time.

• Example: Lack of Transportation
  • Many segregated neighborhoods had poor public transportation services, making it difficult to travel for work or school. However, African American communities found creative ways to cope, such as operating jitneys—small shared vehicles that provided an affordable alternative to regular taxis. These community-led solutions helped mitigate some of the challenges, but they illustrate the ongoing resource gaps caused by redlining.

Case Studies: Experiences of African Americans in Segregated Communities

African Americans who tried to move into predominantly white areas often faced harassment and even violence. Such cases highlight how deeply ingrained segregation had become in American society.

Violence and Hostility

There were instances of mob violence aimed at African American families who moved into white neighborhoods. In many cases, residents resorted to riots or threats to force families of color to leave. These acts demonstrate the lengths to which some groups would go to preserve racial homogeneity in housing.

Historical Examples

Areas such as Levittown, Pennsylvania, are well-known for incidents where African American newcomers encountered relentless hostility. These examples reveal how fear and prejudice were intertwined with the desire to keep communities all-white. This atmosphere also perpetuated the wealth gap, since families that might have afforded new homes were frequently scared away.

The Continuing Legacy of Redlining Today

Although federal laws now prohibit housing discrimination, the long-term effects of redlining continue to shape residential patterns and economic inequality across the United States. Beginning in the 1930s, government-backed programs and private lenders systematically denied mortgages and home loans to Black families and other communities of color. Many neighborhoods that were once marked as “high-risk” or “undesirable” on redlining maps still have lower property values today and face disinvestment in essential services.

Ongoing Disparities

Recent research shows that many predominantly African American neighborhoods have fewer financial institutions, limited access to affordable credit, and higher interest rates for home loans. These barriers make it harder for families to purchase homes, build equity, and pass on generational wealth. As a result, the economic gap between white families and families of color remains deeply rooted in past discriminatory policies.

Modern Examples of Housing Inequality

Even today, families in historically redlined areas may pay higher mortgage rates—not because of income or creditworthiness, but due to ongoing biases in lending practices and appraisals. Families of color are also less likely to receive favorable loan terms or access to a wide range of financing options. These modern challenges reinforce cycles of housing insecurity and limit long-term economic mobility.

Required Sources: Context, Relevance, and Impact

Understanding redlining is not complete without examining two impactful works from the mid-twentieth century:

1. Home Owners’ Loan Corporation “Residential Security” Map of Philadelphia and Camden, 1937
2. Excerpt from A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, 1959

“Residential Security” Map of Philadelphia and Camden, 1937

The Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) prepared maps that rated neighborhoods based on perceived mortgage risk. Philadelphia and Camden, like many cities, had entire districts marked in red to warn lenders against financing mortgages for minority groups there. This document shows how official policies of the time set the stage for decades of economic disadvantage in African American communities. Today, historians and scholars study these maps to understand how government-backed discrimination shaped modern city landscapes.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, 1959

Lorraine Hansberry’s play captured the struggles of an African American family seeking a better life in a world shaped by redlining and housing discrimination. The excerpt reveals the emotional and social challenges they faced when trying to move to a white neighborhood. Although fictional, the family’s experiences mirror the real threats of mob violence, fear, and discrimination. Many African Americans related to these themes, underscoring how segregation impacted dreams of upward mobility. Hansberry’s work remains powerful for its portrayal of hope in the face of structural barriers.

Both sources highlight the harsh realities of housing discrimination and its lingering effects on African American families. They illustrate how redlining was supported by official policies and social norms, reinforcing the need for continued dialogue and legislative measures.

Conclusion

Redlining and housing discrimination have had profound consequences for African Americans in the United States. By denying mortgages and passing laws that enforced segregation, these practices stunted generational wealth and deepened social divides. Although the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was a major step toward fairness, its passage did not completely erase the decades of inequality. Instead, it served as a reminder that legal changes alone cannot solve problems that have become deeply rooted in society.

Ultimately, “what is redlining?” is a question that goes beyond map lines—it is a window into a system that has shaped the financial and social opportunities of millions of people. Students exploring AP® African American Studies can learn valuable lessons by examining the lingering effects of redlining. Understanding the history of housing discrimination helps explain the current state of many communities and reminds all of us why fairness in housing remains an important goal.

Quick Reference Chart: Vocabulary and Key Features

Term	Definition or Key Feature
Redlining	The discriminatory practice where mortgage lenders refused loans or insurance to residents in certain areas, often because of the area’s racial demographics.
Housing Discrimination	Unfair treatment of individuals in housing based on race, ethnicity, or other factors, limiting access and opportunity.
Generational Wealth	Assets (such as property) passed from one generation to the next, influencing financial stability and future opportunities.
Federal Housing Administration’s Underwriting Manual	This 1938 guide codified racial criteria for granting mortgages, discouraging integration and restricting minority access to home loans.
NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)	A civil rights organization that fought housing discrimination, leading efforts for the passage of the Fair Housing Act.
Fair Housing Act (1968)	A law banning discrimination in the sale, rent, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Mob Violence	Attacks by groups against African Americans who attempted to move into white neighborhoods, intending to keep neighborhoods segregated.
Jitneys	Small, community-operated vehicles that provided taxi or bus-like services to African Americans in areas with limited public transportation.
“Residential Security” Map of Philadelphia and Camden, 1937	A government-created map showing areas marked as “high risk,” contributing to redlining and economic hardship for African American communities.
A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry, 1959)	A play illustrating an African American family’s fight against housing discrimination and the emotional toll of segregation.

Redlining’s legacy echoes through modern real estate markets and neighborhood conditions. By studying this history, students gain deeper insights into the challenges faced by African Americans and the efforts they made to secure equal access to safe and stable housing.

Sharpen Your Skills for AP® African American Studies

Are you preparing for the AP® African American Studies test? We’ve got you covered! Try our review articles designed to help you confidently tackle real-world AP® African American Studies problems. You’ll find everything you need to succeed, from quick tips to detailed strategies. Start exploring now!

Need help preparing for your AP® African American Studies exam?

Albert has hundreds of AP® African American Studies practice questions, free response, and full-length practice tests to try out.