Where Are The People of Color?

Despite the prevalence and rich history of people of color a mile or two downstream, there is practically no history of them here at the park. Why?

Historically, few people of color were allowed in areas of wealth and leisure. This exclusion became codified through redlining, a discriminatory practice that systematically denied access to mortgages and financial services to entire neighborhoods based on the racial composition of those areas. Between 1935 and 1940, the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), a federal agency, graded the "residential security" of various American neighborhoods to assess their risk levels for lenders. Neighborhoods with Black residents, as well as some immigrant and Jewish communities, were ranked lower due to the "infiltration" of non-whites.

HOLC produced maps for each city, categorizing neighborhoods with grades: "A" (colored green) for the "best" and safest investments, and "D" (colored red) for those considered "hazardous." Most areas of the wealthy Dimond Park District were afforded ratings of "B" to "C," while neighboring Fruitvale scored from "C" to "D". This practice of redlining was legal and prevalent for many years.

Why does this matter? This practice prevented wealth accumulation: high scores made it nearly impossible for nonwhites to buy property in affluent areas. Property ownership is a primary means of building and passing down wealth, so redlining systematically deprived marginalized communities of this opportunity, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limited economic mobility.