Essay On New York City Redlining

Name: Nikell Adu

Research Paper Draft

Introduction

New York City is one of the most remarkable cities in the world because of its historical background, great skyscrapers, and most importantly, its diverse population. While New York is honored for its variety of backgrounds, certain residents of these communities are ignored by the government. In the 1930s, New York was included in a mortgage plan called redlining where financial institutions would provide certain neighborhoods with loans while denying other neighborhoods based on their race. This plan further segregated states based on race and their social status. New York’s redlining tactics cause Black and Hispanic parents to be at an economic disadvantage when it comes to their children’s

This has caused a disparity of opportunities compared to people living in previously green-lined areas because it creates an educational gap between high and low income communities. Schools in neighborhoods with high poverty rates have fewer teachers and staff which leads to bigger class sizes. Students are less likely to focus on their studies in a class with more than 32+ students since the classes are often unorganized and distracting. Also, teachers in underfunded schools are more likely to have lack of experience in the field than an advanced degree. Without quality teaching, low income students are left behind in education and struggle to keep up with their work. For instance, a Lehman College student named Dai who describes her experience of transferring to a school in Upstate New York. This school was middle income compared to a Bronx school with less resources. To illustrate, “She returned to New York City after middle school, enrolling in what was “supposed to be one of the better schools in the Bronx.” She found the classrooms overcrowded and the curriculum simplistic: “The stuff I was learning in 9th grade I had already learned in 7th.” Her honors classes also failed to challenge or engage her. “I didn’t feel like I grew there in any way. I can’t tell you a damn thing

Previous redlining practices have persisted up to present time based on how New York City funds certain schools. For example, “In New York City, the neediest 25 percent of elementary and middle schools serve a student population where 96 percent of students come from low-income families on average. At the lowest-need schools, by contrast, 45 percent of students are low-income. That means despite having more than twice as many low-income students, highest-need schools receive just 15 percent more funding, according to the analysis.” (Zimmerman, 2018). Low-need schools are provided with more resources than they need because they are deemed more important than other schools. The system favors high achieving students since they are more likely to advance in their life because of opportunities provided to them. This leaves high-need students with fewer opportunities and inferior education. Students are left with old textbooks and go to school in a building with 3 other schools in the same building. This discourages many to learn because they are constantly reminded that students a few blocks away have different learning environments because of their generational wealth and systemic racism. Furthermore, low income students face lower employment and college rates due to not having an understanding of the