Irene Frias

Legacy of Discrimination: Unraveling the Health Impacts of Historical Redlining in Chicago's Black and Latinx Communities

Started July 13, 2023

Abstract or project description

This paper analyzes the impact of historical redlining on current-day health outcomes in Chicago's Black and Latinx communities. Redlining is defined as discriminatory loan and housing practices. During the 1930s, federal housing authorities outlined and ranked city neighborhoods. Communities were ranked A (Best) to D (Hazardous). Criteria used to outline neighborhoods were heavily influenced by race, ethnicity, and immigration. Due to these redlined classifications, segregation is still highly prominent in Chicago today. The city faces significant disparities between majority White communities and ones that are majority Black and Latinx. Disparities range from income to health, with health disparities including differences in areas such as prenatal access, infant mortality, environmental pollution, lead poisoning, gun violence, COVID-19 rates, and life expectancy. The racial disparities in health closely correlate with redlined maps. Despite research on redlining's impact on health, it is mainly conducted on a national scale. A lack of research exists conjoining the disproportionate health outcomes occurring in Chicago's Black and Latinx communities. Chicago is important to explore, as it is one of the most populous cities in the United States, while also being one of the most segregated.

Further insight into the impact of historical redlining in Chicago today is essential for forming new legislation to ensure proper access to resources citywide (e.g., air filters and lead poisoning strips). Findings from the present literature review conclude evident community disparities in income and health because of redlining.