Redlining in San Francisco
Read the following information to learn about the present effect on Black Americans from historical redlining in San Francisco, California.
Project Introduction
This project is focused on assessing the current effects of historical redlining on minority demographics such as homeownership in the San Francisco Metropolitan area. Redlining was a racial policy that was enacted by the Federal Housing Administration in the 1930s (NPR 2017). Redlining allowed banks and other establishments to deny services such as a loan or mortgage to certain groups and marked (redlined) minority communities as inadequate or risks. In 1968, the Fair Housing Act outlawed redlining, but the discriminatory act has left an effect on minority demographics today (Washington Post 2018).
Map 1 resembles the San Francisco County Redlining Map of 1937. The redlining sections are colorized as Area A (good/adequate) to Area D (inadequate/risks). Those who fell in Area D at the time were generally Black America, Asians, and foreign laborers, such as Italians.
In order to gain a proper assessment, the 2019 U.S. Census Data was gathered on the different racial/ethnic populations, homeownership, and income was gathered to visualize the effects of historical redlining.
Demographics
Map 1 shows the predominant race/ethnic group of each U.S Census Tract of San Francisco (Hispanic/Latino, White, Black, and Asian). This data was gathered to view any diversity or lack of in the county. About 23.1% of the population falls into a previously marked redlined area. According to the U.S. Census, Asians are the second-largest racial/ethnic group in San Francisco County making about 35% of the county population and make about 32% of the redlined population. It can be seen that a large portion of the Black and Latino populations are still within these redlined areas.
Redlining has been made to target minority communities, especially in the black community. The Black community in San Francisco is relatively low and has been decreasing over the years. The black population has decreased from 15% to 6% from 1970 to 2017 (Alcantra 2014). This may be associated with previous redlining tactics and other racial pressures. As seen in Map 2, black comminutes with a relatively large black population such as Bayview District were redlined such as the Bayview District.
Furthermore, there aren't any areas marked an Area A that has any black people accounted for. The present map of the black community would have closely resembled the targeted demographics that would have been redlined in the past. Black people only make up 5.1% of the population but 23% of black people fall into a previously marked redlined zone.
Homeownership & Income
Redlining was known as a practice to deny mortgages to minorities especially in white neighborhoods. Based on Map 4, it can be seen that a majority of renters live in predominantly White neighborhoods or in urban settings. While the majority of homeowners are in predominantly Asian neighborhoods. The redlined boundaries have about 25% homeownership.
Map 5 shows the median income in $1,000s. Higher incomes are in the Marina District and the middle of San Francisco County. Based on Map 5 and Map 4, it seems as those with high incomes will possibly rent or even have homeownership in other parts of the county.
The average median income in the redlined zones is about $53,000. However, in areas that had the most predominant black communities such as Bayview and along Alemany Blvd the median income ranges from $9,000-$36,000.
Policy & Action
In conclusion, redlining in San Francisco still affects the black community. In the past, redlining has caused an imbalance of wealth among groups as well as underfunded communities. In order to compensate for actions from the past, it recommended that a policy is enacted to ensure social and economic mobility. For instance, a policy should be passed that casts affordable housing units that are available for those within local median income. Additionally, a policy should be passed that provides equitable services in a minority neighborhood similar to those received in large suburban communities, such as grocery store establishments within a 2-mile radius.