Editing Black residential segregation (section)

===== Definition ===== 

Black residential segregation refers to the separation of Black individuals or communities from white individuals or communities in terms of housing and neighborhoods. This segregation has historically been enforced through various mechanisms, such as redlining, restrictive covenants, and discriminatory lending practices.

Redlining, practiced by government agencies and private lenders in the 1930s, involved drawing maps to determine areas where loans for housing purchases would be denied based on race. These maps systematically excluded predominantly Black neighborhoods, limiting their access to mortgage loans and preventing upward mobility.

Restrictive covenants were clauses in property deeds that forbade the sale or rental of housing to Black individuals. These covenants were prevalent in many neighborhoods and were often enforced through legal means.

Discriminatory lending practices denied Black individuals loans for the purchase or improvement of homes, which made it difficult for them to move into predominantly white neighborhoods. This practice, known as "mortgage discrimination," perpetuated segregation and limited Black individuals' housing choices.

The consequences of residential segregation have been far-reaching. Segregation has limited educational opportunities, increased poverty rates, and exacerbated health disparities within Black communities. It has also perpetuated social and economic inequalities, as segregated neighborhoods tend to have fewer resources, higher crime rates, and less access to quality healthcare and employment opportunities.

While residential segregation has diminished somewhat since the civil rights era, its effects continue to be felt to this day. Efforts to combat segregation and promote fair housing have been made, such as the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. However, challenges remain in fully addressing the systemic causes and effects of residential segregation.