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Transcription
This is a three-part podcast series about suburbanization in the United States after World War II. It discusses the causes, effects, and impacts of suburbanization, with a focus on the African American population. The podcast highlights how the housing market and wealth inequality affected minorities, leading to disparities in education, jobs, and family support. It emphasizes that racial inequality still exists today, with white Americans having more wealth and advantages. The podcast encourages recognition of racial inequality and the need for an equitable society. Hi, my name is Sierra Collins, and welcome to my Un-Essay U.S. History Podcast. This is a three-part podcast series all about suburbanization of the United States after World War II. My aim with this podcast is to highlight the causes, effects, and impacts suburbanization had on the U.S. and its overarching presence in today's culture. Most importantly, I'll be discussing the huge impact suburbanization had on the African American population and the effects that linger on into today's culture. The episodes will be split into three different time periods, starting with 1945, the year World War II ended. Welcome to Episode 3, 1968 to Now. What Can We Do? As homes of white families appreciate and value, the net worth of those families grew, and African Americans were pretty much forced to rent their homes and not even try for a mortgage. Housing and wealth played an important factor into who was approved for mortgages and who weren't, and wealth and prosperity were directly correlated to if you owned a home or not. Offspring of those who owned a home were more likely to prosper in life as well. If you owned a home, you could pass that wealth down to your children, and the lack of prosperity that resulted in not being able to own a home greatly affected the African American and Latino community. Minorities had a much harder time getting higher education, better paying jobs, and supporting their family. Racial inequality was so heavily present during this boom in the housing market, and this would carry on in today's market as well. Today, the average African American family has one-eighth the net worth or assets of the average white American family. This is because of the cumulative disadvantages minority families have been subjected to since suburbia was established in America. Even with the same incomes, white Americans have twice that amount of wealth that African Americans do. And this all boils down to who owned a home and who didn't. America prides itself on being a country of inclusion, where people aren't judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. So many people live in this country and make up a diverse population of ethnicities and races. Colorblindness is not the same as equality. Color matters in our society, as per this discussion of racial inequality and the housing market. The civil rights movement may have ended legal racial inequality, but that doesn't mean we don't see this inequality today. Lasting impact of racism and racial inequality has carried into today, via the social and economic impact it's had on racial minorities. Racism has impacted families for generations and will still impact future families. White Americans are still so much at an advantage in everything related to the American dream. And some white Americans may not recognize this advantage. And this is where this podcast comes in. I hope to be able to grasp the underlying concept of nuanced racial inequality that those who are not in the minority might not recognize. Colorblindness is not healthy for our society. To combat racism, we must know that race exists and has impacted families for centuries. We have the power to make America an equitable environment, but it starts with recognition. Who has had opportunities and who hasn't? And what can we do about it? Thanks for listening. This podcast cannot be produced without the help of these online resources. Forbes, Britannica, and The House We Live In.
