Has Infrastructure Been Used As A Dividing Factor?

          When people think of segregation and concepts similar they think of schooling, busses, housing etc. But something that was much more transformative in today’s world was infrastructure. Infrastructure is inherently a mundane topic that most of us give absolutely no thought to, though it’s influence on the divided society we reside in is significant. Redlining is a concept that was used by the Federal Housing Authority to promote home ownership in suburban white communities through loans and incentives. West Oakland is a great example of black neighborhoods literally being surrounded by seemingly natural buildings with insidious agendas. Three highways were built I-580, I-880 and I-980, and the result was decay, pollution and crime that characterised West Oakland for decades. But it was by no means alone. The process of routing roads through black communities was so common it even had a name among critics, “White roads through black bedrooms.” Highways are an essential part of the American experience that were used as an excuse to further decimate black communities. In the 1950s due to a huge influx of cars routes often had to be routed through urban neighborhoods meaning that thousands of African Americans were forced from their homes ot create a more “perfect” society as those communities were viewed as ghettos. When in reality they were thriving without issue. This all relates back to the play A Raisin In The Sun in the quote “Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses. I did the best I could.”, clearing that housing wasn’t allowed in white communities as realtors increased prices dramatically in order to prevent the “blight” from entering their communities. Now why bring up infrastructure? With the recent passing of the massive 1.7 Trillion dollar infrastructure package I believe it is time to rectify the mistakes of the past and build meaningful infrastructure which will create bridges not barriers