“Does My Neighborhood Determine My Future?” — Vox, 2021, 22:08 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu2sKNJMH-k

Sociologists know that zip codes are powerful predictors of life outcomes. This video explores the connections between racial segregation and social mobility. It uses the Opportunity Atlas (https://www.opportunityatlas.org/), and this tool can be easily used in sociology courses as well. The video also features sociologist Jacob Faber and his research on how segregation is intentionally designed. We learn about redlining and discriminatory lending practices which allowed white families to move to areas with better opportunities but confined Black families (and immigrant families) to areas in decline. Such policies and practices resulted in the institutionalization of segregation, the legacy of which still haunts us today. Even today, homes in Black communities are routinely underpriced, hampering the ability of Black families to build wealth. We also learn about housing testers, individuals who pretend to be looking for housing to examine how realtors treat clients of different racial backgrounds.

From the video’s description: Housing policy in the United States has a long history of deepening segregation. Redlining, exclusionary lending, and targeted zoning laws have all played a role in isolating minority populations while simultaneously privileging white residents. Glad You Asked host Lee Adams wants to know how this happened, and what effect residential segregation has on your future.