A new study reveals the long-term consequences of redlining, a discriminatory housing policy from the 1930s. Researchers found that people living in redlined neighborhoods in 1940 had a significantly higher risk of premature death, and this disparity persists to the present day. The article explores how redlining created a racial segregation that continues to impact health, wealth, and opportunity in affected communities. Understanding this history is crucial for addressing systemic inequities and building a more equitable future.
The Long-Lasting Legacy of Redlining
Redlining, a discriminatory housing policy that emerged during the Great Depression, had devastating impacts that continue to reverberate today. Researchers at the University at Buffalo and Texas A&M University recently published a study in JAMA Internal Medicine that sheds light on this dark chapter of American history.
The study found that people living in redlined neighborhoods in 1940 had an 8% increased risk of death later in life, compared to those in the most desirable, predominantly white neighborhoods. This translated to a 1.47-year shorter life expectancy at age 65. Egede, one of the study’s co-authors, explains that “redlining is an example of structural racism because it put into law a policy that fostered discrimination based on race.”
Redlining’s Lasting Impact on Health and Wealth
The effects of redlining extend far beyond mortality rates. Egede notes that redlining created a “dual housing market” where African Americans faced different and often more challenging processes when purchasing homes. This restricted the flow of capital into and out of minority neighborhoods, making it much harder for residents to build wealth through home ownership.
This wealth gap has had rippling consequences, leading to “social risk factors, lower human capital and lower health care resources, all of which have been linked to adverse health outcomes and premature mortality.” As a result, historically redlined neighborhoods continue to experience disparities across sectors, from life expectancy to access to quality education and economic opportunities.
Addressing the Ongoing Impact of Structural Racism
While the Fair Housing Act of 1968 officially outlawed redlining, its impacts persist. Egede notes that “many people think that once a law is changed the impact of that law is removed. However, that is not what we are seeing with historical redlining.”
The Buffalo-Niagara metro area, for example, remains one of the most segregated in the nation, with 85% of African Americans living east of Main Street and significant disparities in life expectancy between these neighborhoods. Egede and his colleagues are currently studying ways to reduce the effects of structural racism and address these longstanding inequities.
Understanding the history of redlining is crucial for building a more equitable future. By acknowledging the deep, systemic roots of health and wealth disparities, we can work towards solutions that truly address the underlying causes and create meaningful change.
