The development of many American cities has been profoundly shaped by “redlining,” a process dating to the 1930s of deliberately dividing urban areas primarily by race. Once a federal policy, redlining produced maps determining which areas of a city were considered “safe” for investment and growth, and which were not, with red lines drawn around those areas deemed to be unsuitable for lending. Redlining was a widely practiced means of ensuring a racially segmented city and placed minorities at a severe disadvantage when trying to obtain banking or insurance services. The effects of the practice led to spiraling urban decay in redlined neighborhoods and are still highly evident in cities like Columbus. Today, the advent of community land trusts, more equitable property tax appraisal practices, and the growth of minority-owned banks are attempting to address the consequences of redlining. Join CMC as we look at the impact of redlining in Columbus and new efforts to heal its deep divisions.
Featuring Jordan A. Miller, Jr., Chairman & CEO, Adelphi Bank, Danielle Sydnor, CEO, Rise Together Innovation Institute, Nicole Sutton, Black Heritage Special Collections Librarian, Columbus Metropolitan Library, and Monica Moran, Deputy Chief of Staff, Franklin County Auditor’s Office, with host Tracy Townsend, Anchor, Wake Up CBUS and Face the State, WBNS 10TV.
You can learn more about redlining in Columbus and how it has impacted Columbus’ neighborhoods by visiting the “Undesign the Redline” interactive exhibit, on display in Upper Arlington at the Concourse Gallery (3600 Tremont Rd, Columbus, OH 43221) through July 7, 2023, with additional stops in Columbus to follow. Admission is free. Learn more: https://www.ywcacolumbus.org/get-involved/attend-an-event/aanda/undesign-the-redline-exhibit/
