Today's urban inequality goes far beyond legacy of 'redlining,' study shows
The use of racially discriminatory housing maps in the 1930s, a practice known as "redlining," perpetuated multigenerational cycles of poverty and segregation that continue today. While redlining shaped cities, its legacy does not fully explain current urban patterns of privilege and disadvantage, a new study finds.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that urban inequality in the United States is more complex than the legacy of redlining. While redlining, a discriminatory housing practice from the 1930s, shaped some patterns of privilege and disadvantage, it does not fully explain current trends.
Jola Ajibade, an associate professor at Emory University, explains that focusing solely on redlined neighborhoods overlooks the fact that most U.S. cities have expanded beyond their original centers. At the same time, gentrification and displacement create new patterns of risk and opportunity. The research team analyzed socioeconomic data and environmental indicators for Portland, Oregon, comparing contemporary maps with historical redlining boundaries.
Their findings reveal that poorer neighborhoods, often outside former redlined areas, experience higher pollution, disaster risk, and health burdens. In gentrified areas, there is less tree cover, while displaced communities often have limited access to essential services. The study suggests that policymakers and planners must adopt a broader perspective, considering multiple socioeconomic and environmental factors to create healthier, more equitable cities.
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