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Chicago is America’s Most Segregated City

Wed, Jan 21, 2009

About Chicago

Map of Segregation In Chicago (Chicago Tribune)

Map of Segregation In Chicago (Source: Chicago Tribune-Click to Enlarge)

Chicago, the city that gave the country its first African American president, has been crowned the most segregated city in the United States. On Dec. 26th, 2008, using data from The Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University, The Chicago Tribune wrote an in-depth report on segregation in Chicago. The report appears to have drawn little attention. It details how Chicagoans live in a city sharply divided along racial lines.

Segregation Is in Chicago’s History

Chicago is an old city; its long history is at the root of the problem. Institutional segregation was at first enforced by law and by force. One hundred years ago, these systems and laws created parts of the city for not only particular races, but also for ethnic groups as well.

When institutional segregation came under greater and greater legal pressure, it gave away to subtler, but very effective techniques for maintaining segregation such as red lining and steering.

What Are Redlining and Steering?

Pears Apples and Oranges All in Their Place

Separated

Redlining is the now-illegal practice of lending institutions refusing to lend to borrowers, or increasing the costs of loans, for homes in certain, often racially determined areas. Redlining goes beyond home loans however; other services important to people that were denied based on location include insurance, access to jobs, health care, and stores.

Steering is the illegal practice of real estate agents directing buyers to. and away from, particular neighborhoods based on the buyer or renter’s race and/or ethnicity. Red lining was justified over and over with statements like, “You will be happier here among your own kind,” and “You don’t want to live there?you wouldn’t be comfortable.”

Another not-so subtle strategy that is particular to Chicago was physically dividing the city racially by using the Eisenhower Expressway as a fence: African Americans to the south and Caucasians to the north. For years it has stood as a marker for all of where you should live based on your skin color. “The wrong side of the tracks” became, “The wrong side of the highway” in Chicago.

Segregation Is Hard to Uproot

For well over 100 years, segregation has been the rule in Chicago. This history is now extremely difficult to overcome. The families and the institutions that they love and rely on are now a driving force in keeping the city segregated. Institutions like houses of worship, stores, restaurants, and schools that cater to one ethnicity or race tend to ensure that the people who are in the area, stay in the area. And, when a family member or a friend moves to the city, they are also more likely to live in the same area and the trend not only continues, it deepens. This is the same with all ethnicities and races?it’s a major reason Chicago became a city of over 200 neighborhoods.

Chicago’s Racial Breakdown

This study also pointed out an interesting statistic. There are more African Americans in Chicago than Hispanics or Whites. Of Chicago’s nearly 3 million people, 35% are African American, Hispanics are 30%, and Caucasians are 28%.

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This post was written by:

Rod Holmes - who has written 46 posts on The Chicago 77.

Rod has been a broker working in Chicago since 2004. He has worked with developers, buyers, sellers, and as well as managing offices. He is currently a partner in Chicago Style SEO working primarily with real estate firms to improve their Internet marketing. Rod lived for nearly ten years in Japan where he owned a corporate training and executive coaching firm with clients including Hitachi and 3M Japan.He lives in Lakeview with his wife and two children. He enjoys coaching and watching his kids participate in sports, cycling, camping, and traveling in general.You can find Rod online on Twitter at @roddesu, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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3 Comments For This Post

  1. Aaron M. Renn Says:

    Here is a related piece I posted today:

    http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/01/19/michael-scott-robert-clifton-weavers-quest-to-end-housing-segregation-has-anything-changed/

    The guy who wrote it relates a story of steering from the mid-90’s. It’s tough to believe this is still going on in Chicago, but I guess it is.

  2. Shorty Says:

    This is great information. Recently, I have been wondering how Chicago celebrates a great level of diversity yet ranks as one of the most segregated cities.

    What do you think can be done about this?

  3. Tony Says:

    The link to the Tribune comes up with an obituary. I believe I recall the article. Newspapers are in the business of selling newspapers, and “most segregated city” is far more likely to get attention than “one of the most segregated”

    The link to NIU’s page is just a generic front page. A google search of the site for “segregation” does not yield the report.

    This report using 2000 census data indicates that Chicago’s PSMA (not the city itself) is not the most segregated city in the US.
    For black people:
    http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/housing_patterns/tab5-4.html

    depending on the measure Chicago is between the 3rd and 38th most segregated city. Detroit is worse than Chicago on all measures, and New York is worse on some.

    for hispanics:

    http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/housing_patterns/tab6-4.html

    On one measure Chicago is the most segregated PSMA for hispanics, but on four others is not.

    Any fair discussion must note that Chicago’s segregation level for blacks is falling faster than most every other slow growing northern city, and many fast growing sunbelt cities.
    http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/housing_patterns/tab5-5.html

    I do not understand the contention that the Eisenhower is a dividing line between blacks and whites
    see this:
    http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1762.html

    It will be interesting to see the census results from this year.

3 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. The Urbanophile » Blog Archive » Michael Scott: Robert Clifton Weaver’s Quest to End Housing Segregation – Has Anything Changed? Says:

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    [...] According to a report by the Chicago 77, a Chicago real estate blog, Chicago is the most segregated city. [...]

  3. Values v. Property Values « NTFB Says:

    [...] at Uptown, one of the last black and Latino neighborhoods left on the North Side of Chicago – the most segregated city in the country. I’m also right on the edges of some hotly contested gang territory and in possession of a [...]

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