Food Insecurity in Chicago

How the legacy of redlining appears in the city today

Joslin Nguyen

Historical Context and Background

In Chicago, discriminatory practices plagued the city for a long time and segregation was rampant. In the early 1920s, racially restrictive deeds and covenants drafted by Chicago real estate leaders restricted properties in certain areas from being sold to African-Americans or even those not “Caucasian.” These racially restrictive covenants physically created racial boundaries that kept Black and white separate. In the 1930s, federal redlining institutionalized this segregation, reinforcing and intensifying the existing the discriminatory practices that were already in use (University of Richmond, n.d.).

Redlining is defined as “the systematic denial of services such as mortgages, insurance loans, and other financial services to residents of certain areas, based on their race or ethnicity,” and emerged in response to the Great Depression (Wex Definitions Team, 2022). To stabilize the housing market, federal agencies like the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) aimed to provide government-insured mortgages and establish lending guidelines. HOLC created residential security maps for cities across the United States, including Chicago, that graded and divided neighborhoods into four categories based on "riskiness" for lending (University of Richmond, n.d.):  

  • Grade A (green) - highly desirable/lowest risk 
  • Grade B (blue) - desirable/low risk 
  • Grade C (yellow) - declining
  • Grade D (red) - hazardous

Grading of neighborhoods was based on many factors, with one of the most important being racial makeup. Neighborhoods with predominantly rich, white populations were typically labeled green or blue, while those with African American or other minority populations were often labeled yellow or red (Hunt, n.d.). The ranking of neighborhoods determined an individuals’ credit worthiness, and those who lived in red regions were denied access to bank loans and insurance, creating a wealth gap between whites and minorities. 

In Chicago, neighborhoods where restrictive covenants existed were rated higher by HOLC and Black neighborhoods were redlined, further marginalizing these already segregated communities by denying them access to mortgage loans. Much of the redlined communities existed on the city’s South and West Sides. Without access to loans for homeownership or property improvement, these neighborhoods faced systematic disinvestment. Because banks and government agencies were unwilling to invest in neighborhoods “redlined” by federal agencies, these regions lacked essential infrastructure - schools, grocery stores, healthcare facilities, etc. (Cherone, n.d.). Families (predominantly white and European American) that were granted loans moved out of cities and formed suburbs, known as "White Flight." This widened the wealth gap between suburban areas and impoverished inner cities, creating a cycle of poverty and decline that urban areas faced.

While redlining as an official policy has been outlawed since the Fair Housing Act of 1968, its effects have greatly impacted the communities of Chicago today, where it is clear that wealth gaps between America’s segregated inner city and suburban communities still exist.

By examining the historical context of redlining in Chicago and its enduring effects on food access, this story map seeks to highlight the interconnectedness of racial segregation, economic inequality, and food justice.

Chicago Today: Food Deserts and Economic Inequality

One of the most insidious consequences of redlining in Chicago is the creation of food deserts. Food deserts are areas characterized by limited access to affordable, healthy food options are limited or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance ("Food Deserts," n.d.). In urban areas like Chicago, access to public transportation may help residents overcome difficulties posed by distance, but policies like redlining have led to systematic disinvestment. 

Grocery chains, like many other businesses, were hesitant to open stores in redlined neighborhoods due to perceived risks and concerns about profitability. The discriminatory labeling of these areas reinforced negative stereotypes and stigmatized communities of color, further deterring potential investors. Additionally, redlined neighborhoods often faced economic challenges, including higher rates of poverty and unemployment, which contributed to lower purchasing power among residents. As these residents were denied access to homeownership and, in turn, wealth-building opportunities, residents of redlined areas were basically barred from gaining any capital. Homeownership is a key component of wealth. Consequently, this became a barrier to intergenerational wealth transfer, an effect that’s seen today as the poverty rates among African-Americans is the highest among any ethnicity in the city (Gwinn, 2023).

Poverty Rates by Race & Ethnicity (%), 2021

Communities that are below the poverty rate are geographically similar to ones that have been historically redlined, notably the South and West sides of Chicago.

When you compare the previous map with this one, you can see the correlation between the areas that face the highest poverty rates and the areas that have the highest rates of non-white residents. The economic inequality that these vulnerable communities face today are mere symptoms of institutionalized discrimination that existed with policies like redlining in the early 1900s.

As a result, redlined neighborhoods in Chicago frequently became food deserts. Without nearby grocery stores offering fresh produce and healthy options, residents were forced to rely on alternative sources for their food needs, such as convenience stores, small corner markets, and fast-food restaurants. These establishments often prioritize shelf-stable, processed foods with long shelf lives, lacking the variety and nutritional value of fresh produce and whole foods. Once again, as you look at the percentage of low food access across Chicago, the geographical layout of food access bears a striking resemblance to neighborhoods that have been historically redlined. Even further, data gathered by Feeding America shows that Blacks and Hispanics face the highest rates of food insecurity. This is an unsurprising pattern that appears throughout the country - low-income and minority populations face the highest numbers of food insecurity because of a history of racism and marginalization that is deeply ingrained in its foundation. Across the U.S., it has been found that counties with above-average Black populations had fewer grocers, restaurants, farmers markets and more small convenience stores and that one out of every five Black households is situated in a food desert ("Too many Black Americans live in food deserts," 2021).

Food Insecurity Rate by Ethnicity (%), 2021

Conclusion

In conclusion, the historical legacy of redlining in Chicago continues to reverberate through the city, manifesting in entrenched economic inequality and pervasive food insecurity. The discriminatory practices of redlining, compounded by decades of disinvestment and systemic racism, have created enduring disparities that disproportionately affect communities of color.

The creation of food deserts in redlined neighborhoods underscores the intersectionality of racial segregation, economic disenfranchisement, and food justice. Denied access to essential services such as grocery stores and fresh produce, residents of redlined areas face barriers to maintaining healthy diets and optimal health outcomes. The lack of investment in these communities perpetuates cycles of poverty and marginalization, further exacerbating disparities in wealth and well-being.

While redlining as an official policy may have been outlawed, its effects continue to shape the socioeconomic landscape of Chicago today. Addressing the root causes of economic inequality and food insecurity requires concerted efforts to dismantle systemic barriers, promote equitable development, and ensure access to resources and opportunities for all residents.

By acknowledging the historical injustices of redlining and its enduring effects, we can begin to forge a path toward a more just and equitable future for Chicago. Through community-driven initiatives, policy reforms, and collective action, we can work to create inclusive neighborhoods where access to nutritious food, economic opportunities, and social justice are available to all. Only by confronting the legacy of redlining head-on can we truly build a city where every resident has the opportunity to thrive.

References (Including Data and Images)

Cherone, H. (n.d.). How did Chicago become so segregated? By inventing modern segregation. WTTW.  https://interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/segregation/how-did-chicago-become-so-segregated-by-inventing-modern-segregation  

Chicago Health Atlas (n.d.). Demographics. Chicago Health Atlas.  Retrieved March 24, 2024, from  https://chicagohealthatlas.org/indicators/PCT?topic=demographics 

Chicago Health Atlas (n.d.). Low food access. Chicago Health Atlas.  Retrieved March 24, 2024, from  https://chicagohealthatlas.org/indicators/LFA?topic=low-food-access  

City of Chicago. (n.d.). Census Data - Selected socioeconomic indicators in Chicago, 2008 – 2012. Chicago Data Portal. Retrieved March 24, 2024, from  https://data.cityofchicago.org/Health-Human-Services/Census-Data-Selected-socioeconomic-indicators-in-C/kn9c-c2s2/data  

Feeding America. (n.d.). Food insecurity among Black (all ethnicities) population in the United States. Feeding America. Retrieved March 24, 2024, from  https://map.feedingamerica.org/district/2020/black  

Food deserts. (n.d.). Food Empowerment Project.  https://foodispower.org/access-health/food-deserts/ 

Gwinn, E. (2023, June 26). Why closing Chicago’s racial wealth gap became a priority.  https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-racial-wealth-gap/redlining-impact-chicago-wealth-gap  Hunt, D.B. (n.d.). Redlining. Encyclopedia of Chicago.  http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1050.html  

Lake Forest College. (n.d.). Racial restriction and housing discrimination in the Chicagoland area. Digital Chicago.  https://digitalchicagohistory.org/exhibits/show/restricted-chicago/other/redlining  

University of Richmond. (n.d.). Mapping Inequality. American Panorama.  https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining  

University of Richmond (n.d.). Mapping Inequality: Chicago. American Panorama.  https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/map/IL/Chicago/context#mapview=full&loc=9/41.8716/-87.8027   

Wex Definitions Team. (2022, April). Redlining. Cornell Law School. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from  https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/redlining#:~:text=Redlining%20can%20be%20defined%20as,on%20their%20race%20or%20ethnicity .