Redlining on the North Shore

Have you ever stopped to think why there are so few Black people living in our community, or in the North Shore altogether?  The fact that African Americans are few and far between here didn’t happen by accident.

While I’m sure we all chose to live in Northbrook for very wholesome reasons: quality schools, beautiful parks and amenities, excellent property values, safety, and a community that is a great place to raise children.  You may or may not have given any thought to the fact that very few people of color lived here while making that decision.  

Let me be clear that I’m not lecturing or wishing to shame anyone for making this choice.  I am asking that you ponder the history that helped create our present day communities.  Much like when we go to the grocery store and purchase hamburger or chicken wings, we don’t stop to think about the process that preceded their arrival to your dinner table. 

There are numerous reasons that the suburbs became predominantly White.  Most of those forces were at play over 50-100 years ago.  Many of these reasons have to do with who could get loans and access to housing.  There were in fact government policies at federal, state, and local level that created segregation.  Policies such as redlining which identified areas with or near African Americans and legal devices known as restrictive covenants  that could exclude sale of homes to Blacks or Jews.  In addition the real estate practice known as steering and restrictive zoning were other methods used to keep neighborhoods and communities segregated. 

This is a more complex part of our history with significant ramifications that continue through today.   And…It is far more than I can cover in 3 minutes.  I am, however, very proud to tell you that Richard Rothstein, author of the acclaimed NY TIMES bestselling book  “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America” will be presenting via a digital Zoom style event on Wednesday October 13th at 7pm.  This event, organized by RAIN, TiBA, and the Northbrook Public Library will be simultaneously presented by 50 Libraries in the Chicago region.  I encourage all of you to go to www.northbrook.info/events  to preregister for this presentation.  Richard Rothstein will talk about this history and actions we can take to reverse the damaging effects of Segregation.

 Please join this important presentation.  There will be an opportunity to submit questions for Mr Rothstein as you register and during the event.