573

This morning, as I was driving to the gym I was listening to the radio.  I just so happen to catch the end of a conversation on housing and how the federal government is trying to ensure many of the issues connected to housing and the economy (approving mortgages for people who truly can't afford and a bunch of other issues) doesn't happen again.

Apparently, private companies are being encouraged to buy up huge lots of houses for dirt and then rent them out.  Well these "cheaper" homes were homes that buyers who do not have the best credit or highest income were actually able to buy and AFFORD.  Now those options are not available for people to buy.

The focus of the conversation this morning, was how this affects African Americans.  African Americans and other minorities were more likely to buy these properties.   I was blown away when I found out that the AVERAGE CREDIT SCORE for an African American is 573.  WHAT THE HELL?!   The dirt bottom score for getting approved for a mortgage is 640, which is super low too! (As stated in the radio show...) 

None-the-less, I continue to see how the legacy of racism still effects us today.  After World War II, minorities were kept out of certain communitys and unable to buy.  These policies were backed by law.  Many minorities then flocked to the inner cities to rent.  When you think about it, this has greatly hindered this idea of "wealth" vs. "rich" in regard to the wealth of owning a home and passing property on to generations.  You also see how this helped create ghettos, public housing, and segregation...you also see how this effects the quality of education.

If property taxes pay for schools, and you have huge areas where neighborhoods only consist of renters, then DUH...you have poor schools - mainly Black and Latino.  How is the policy still alive?!  Just because you're poor your school is poor?  Ahhh hecky naw!!! 

Obviously, these issues are greatly complicated, but it's disheartening because I feel so many people claim to be "colorblind" (which is impossible), and then legitimize racist policies by claim it's not racist because race is not an issue anymore.  I find issues of race even more scary because these issues are ingrained and defined as tradition and policy...instead of racism and hate. 

Anyway - I believe in the power of education.  Call me an idealist, but I believe in the possiblity of better.

But 573...oh, no.  This has to change.