Week 1
Mapping Inequality: The Legacy of Redlining and Segregation (11/11-11/15)

In mid-20th century America, housing segregation was deeply entrenched by discriminatory policies like redlining. Initiated by federal agencies such as the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), labeled predominantly Black and minority neighborhoods as “high-risk,” denying residents access to loans and insurance. Meanwhile, White families were incentivized to move into suburban developments, protected by racially restrictive covenants (agreements) that legally barred Black families from buying homes there. This exclusion from homeownership—a primary path to building generational wealth—left minority communities in a cycle of poverty and disinvestment, with poorly funded schools, limited healthcare access, and fewer job opportunities. Though redlining was later outlawed, its legacy persists in the form of economic inequality, segregated neighborhoods, and ongoing disparities in resources. These policies continue to impact American cities today, reinforcing structural inequality and shaping the experiences of generations. 

The Cicero riots in 1951 exemplified the violent resistance Black families faced when attempting to move into predominantly White neighborhoods in Northern cities. When the Clark family, African American tenants, rented an apartment in Cicero, Illinois, they were met with fierce opposition from local White residents, who feared a decline in property values and social change. Soon, mobs of residents gathered (5,000 total), vandalizing the Clarks' apartment and hurling stones and Molotov cocktails over several days, with police largely standing by. Despite the deployment of the Illinois National Guard, the violence destroyed the family’s belongings and forced them to flee. This incident, widely publicized, exposed the depth of Northern racial discrimination and highlighted the limits of legal protections for Black citizens and the severe consequences for those who challenged these norms. 

The Boston Busing Crisis was a pivotal moment in the push for school desegregation in Northern cities. In 1974, following Judge W. Arthur Garrity’s ruling that Boston’s public schools were unconstitutionally segregated, the city was ordered to implement a busing plan, requiring students to attend schools outside their neighborhoods to achieve racial balance. This plan aimed to address disparities, as predominantly Black schools were often underfunded and overcrowded compared to White schools. However, the decision sparked fierce resistance, especially in White working-class areas like South Boston, where residents feared losing control over their community schools and saw the mandate as an unwanted government intrusion.

The response was explosive: White residents staged violent protests, students boycotted schools, and Black students bused into these neighborhoods faced hostile environments. Media coverage captured images of violence and harassment, bringing national attention to Boston as a city gripped by racial conflict. Black families, although supportive of equal education, were also concerned for their children’s safety. The crisis brought Northern racial tensions into sharp focus, challenging the belief that racial segregation was solely a Southern issue. It underscored the difficulties of implementing civil rights policies in communities resistant to change, and it left Boston deeply divided, with lasting scars that impacted education, housing, and race relations today.

Lorraine Hansberry was a groundbreaking playwright, essayist, and activist, best known for her play A Raisin in the Sun, which made history as the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. Born in 1930 in Chicago, Hansberry grew up amidst racial segregation and inequality, experiences that deeply influenced her writing and activism. Her work exposed the harsh realities of systemic racism, housing discrimination, and economic struggles faced by Black Americans, while also capturing the strength, dreams, and resilience within Black communities.

Hansberry’s influence extended far beyond the theater. Her fearless critique of American society and exploration of intersecting issues of race, gender, and class challenged audiences to confront uncomfortable truths. Through her characters’ struggles and aspirations, she opened a national conversation about the American Dream and who it truly serves. Hansberry’s legacy endures as a voice of resistance and hope, inspiring future generations of writers, activists, and thinkers to continue the fight for equality and justice.

“All which I feel I must write has become obsessive. So many truths seem to be rushing at me as the result of things felt and seen and lived through. Oh, what I think I must tell this world.” - Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry's father, Carl Augustus Hansberry, made a significant impact on Chicago’s South Side by working to provide affordable housing options for African American families, despite restrictive covenants and rampant housing discrimination. He was instrumental in securing over 500 homes for Black families in previously restricted areas, fighting against segregation and promoting Black homeownership in the face of intense opposition. His purchase of a home in a white neighborhood led to Hansberry v. Lee, a landmark Supreme Court case that challenged racially restrictive covenants and set a precedent in the fight against housing discrimination. 

Lorraine Hansberry, like all authors, was deeply influenced by the era and social context in which she lived, as well as by the work of her contemporaries. By understanding those who inspired her, we see how literature is part of an evolving conversation—each author building on the voices and perspectives that came before them. This connection to a literary tradition allows us to trace how societal shifts, historical events, and artistic influences shape an author's unique vision and contribute to the broader tapestry of human expression and understanding.