A Tale of Two Cities [Podcast]

How the Federal Government Promoted Housing Segregation and Thwarted Black Home Ownership

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Home ownership played an important role in how many Americans built wealth in the 20^th century. Yet African Americans faced significant obstacles on the path to owning a home, in the same time period. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss how government policies promoted residential segregation and destroyed African American neighborhoods in the process.

The Ways & Means podcast series “The Arc of Justice – From Here to Equality” is inspired by the research of economist William A. “Sandy” Darity Jr. Darity is the Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. He has written an award-winning book with the folklorist and arts consultant A. Kirsten Mullen,  “From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21^st Century.”

Resources

• “From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21^st Century” by William A. “Sandy” Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen
• “Detroit’s Birwood Wall: Hatred and Healing in the West Eight Mile Community” by Gerald Van Dusen
• “Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis” by Preston Lauterbach
• “Insuring Inequality: The Role of the Federal Housing Administration in the Urban Ghettoization of African Americans” by John Kimble
• Download discussion guide
• Read episode transcript
• Subscribe to the live series finale April 15, 2021

Music

Theme music by David Schulman. Original music in this episode was produced by youth in Durham, N.C., in collaboration with Blackspace and Only US, featuring music from King Shaun, Lil’ Monsta, Zone and Jamm. Additional original music by Solomon Fox, appearing courtesy of Forging The Musical Future [FTMF Talent].

Appreciation

Thanks to reporter Timothy Jagielo for providing sound from Detroit. Also, thanks to Earnestine L. Jenkins, Alexus Jenkins, Kenneth Johnson, Paul and Tenisha Tate-Austin, and Elaine Turner of Heritage Tours in Memphis.

The Arc of Justice: From Here to Equality is produced in partnership with North Carolina Public Radio WUNC. It is made possible through support from the Duke Office for Faculty Advancement thanks to funding from The Duke Endowment.