While the world has changed, the problems that were born of the state-sanctioned discriminatory practices involving housing in Chicago have not. The creation and systemic maintenance of the Black Belt in Chicago by the state of Illinois has contributed to millions stolen from the community, generational poverty, generational violence, and decades of mental health problems. The state of Illinois effectively knowingly and explicitly caged an entire community into a limited amount of space with limited resources for decades.
Multiple court cases later, there have been no substantive remedies for the multitude of problems caused by state sanctioned housing discrimination. It is not enough to give rent vouchers, vouchers for food, and to open ineffective offices. There have been enough studies that show that CHA breeds generational poverty and dependence. After the Great Depression in America, the government instituted jobs programs. People need jobs and educational opportunities that are real.
In the main case fought and won with regards to Chicago housing discrimination, Gautreaux, the Supreme Court of the United States prescribed on April 20, 1976, that metropolitan relief was proper, and the court left how the housing would be built or leased to the district court. Relief is due to the South Side neighborhoods of Chicago. This is not simply a rearrangement of housing projects but a more involved assessment of the needs of the current population, and a reinvestment into Chicago citizens. Employment, health, education, and youth programming should be a part of a comprehensive relief plan for South Side Chicago. This is not charity, it is the responsibility of the state of Illinois.
Check out the research on housing discrimination in Chicago, and the Illinois state-sanctioned discriminatory practices involving housing here:
Housing Discrimination in Chicago 1900s-1950s
Housing Discrimination in Chicago 1960-1970s
Wow I would have never thought that the city of Chicago was set up the way it is by the state, putting people In poverty in certain areas and constructing this system that keeps them there. When I think about it, it’s like that in almost every poverty stricken neighborhood, mostly to those of color. Our generation needs a leader, maybe you should be one of them??! I would love to speak on this topic in front of people one day, because things have to change.
First off, thanks for commenting!!
With regards to the article, I walked into the research for this piece expecting to find implicit racism by the State of Illinois. I was shocked myself at the magnitude of the explicit institutional racism, discriminatory practices, and legislation that I found. It’s all documented and very alarming. To your second point, I have a long way to go before being one of the leaders of our generation, but I would like to get there in the future. You should speak on this topic and the topics that interest you in front of people, because like you said things have to change.