Blk Ppl and Housing Inequities

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Studies suggest that more than half of the United States’ racial wealth gap is attributable to housing inequities. This course explores why. This class will explore Black people’s housing options since their formal relocation and eventual settlement in the United States. Throughout this historical period, Black people have had to navigate uneven and inconsistent access to the housing market. To understand this complicated history, students will learn how social difference (with special attention paid to class, race, and gender) has impacted the policy, development, and regulation of housing in the United States. Moreover, students will discover how existing policies may reinforce or challenge Black communities’ attempts to build wealth and reduce poverty. Lastly, this course will provide students with a basic understanding of how social difference impacts the economics of housing, including supply and demand, finance, and housing consumption.