The Constructive House

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The Real State of Black Economics — Beyond the Myths

For generations, mainstream narratives have painted Black communities with a broad brush of deficiency—fatherlessness, welfare dependence, crime, and cultural failure. These stereotypes aren’t just inaccurate; they’re distractions. They shift blame from the systems that created inequality to the people most affected by it. At The Constructive House , we believe in building—not blaming. And that starts with reframing the conversation. The Myth of Deficiency Spend five minutes online and you’ll hear it: “Black people need to fix themselves.” But the data tells a different story. Over 85% of Black households have at least one employed adult. Black fathers who live with their children are the most involved of any racial group, according to the CDC. Most Black families receive no public assistance at all. The issue isn’t work ethic—it’s ownership. And that gap wasn’t created by laziness. It was engineered. Policy Over Personality From redlining to unequal education funding, federal and loca...

How Urban Renewal Destroyed Freedmen's Town: Houston's Black Wall Street

In the middl e of downtown Houston — not far from the glass towers and busy freeways — lies a neighborhood most people pass without a second thought. But look closer. Under your feet, those red bricks aren’t just streets. They’re history. This is Freedmen’s Town — a neighborhood built by formerly enslaved Black people after the Civil War. They laid every single brick by hand. They built homes, churches, schools, and businesses. Most of all, they built freedom . A Place Built From Freedom After slavery ended in 1865, newly freed Black families had to start over with nothing. No land. No protection. No help from the government. But what they did have was each other — and a deep desire to live free. So they moved west of Houston’s bayou, bought land, and created their own community. That place became known as Freedmen’s Town. It was more than just a place to live — it was a place to thrive. They didn’t wait for freedom to be given. They built it themselves. Black Excelle...

How Milwaukee Used Urban Renewal to Erase "Bronzeville": Milwaukee's Black Wall Street

Bronzeville was once the heart of Milwaukee’s Black community. It was full of life, music, businesses, and dreams. But in the 1960s, the city tore it apart — calling it “urban renewal.” This is the story of how a thriving neighborhood was erased, and how its legacy still lives on. 🚂 From the South to Milwaukee In the early 1900s, many Black families moved from the South to cities in the North. This movement was called the Great Migration. People were looking for better jobs, safer neighborhoods, and a chance to live with dignity. Milwaukee was one of those cities. But even in the North, racism didn’t go away. Black families were pushed into small areas of the city. In Milwaukee, they were forced into a district near downtown. That area became known as Bronzeville. Even though they were boxed in by unfair laws and housing rules, the people of Bronzeville built something beautiful. Churches like St. Mark AME and Calvary Baptist became places of hope. Families supported each other. Neigh...

🌆 The Lost Legacy of Overtown: The Harlem of the South

When people think of Miami, they often picture beaches, palm trees, and flashy nightlife. But hidden just northwest of downtown is a neighborhood with a rich and powerful history— Overtown , once known as “The Harlem of the South.” 🎶 A Place Full of Life and Music Back in the early 1900s, Overtown was one of the few places in Miami where Black people were allowed to live due to segregation laws. Even though life was tough, the community built something amazing. Overtown became a center for Black culture, business, and music. Famous musicians like Ella Fitzgerald , Louis Armstrong , Sam Cooke , and Aretha Franklin performed in Overtown after their shows in Miami Beach, where they weren’t allowed to stay because of segregation. The Lyric Theater was the heart of the neighborhood’s music scene, and the streets were alive with jazz, soul, and celebration . 🏘️ A Thriving Community Overtown wasn’t just about music. It had schools, churches, restaurants, and shops owned by Black residents...

🚫 Redlining in Birmingham? Fairway Mortgage Under Fire

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office took legal action against Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation , accusing them of modern-day redlining in Birmingham, Alabama . This means the company may have ignored and avoided Black neighborhoods when offering mortgage loans—and that’s a serious problem. 🕵️ What Did the DOJ Find? The lawsuit says Fairway didn’t treat everyone equally. Here’s what they’re being accused of: No loan officers placed in Black neighborhoods No marketing in majority-Black areas Low loan numbers for Black homebuyers—even though other lenders did better Branch locations that skipped entire ZIP codes with mostly Black residents Basically, Fairway’s business choices made it harder for Black families to get home loans , even when they were qualified. 🗣️ A Word from the DOJ “Fairway’s practices effectively shut the door of homeownership on communities of color in Birmingham.” – U.S. Attorney Prim F. Esca...

🚨 Redlining in L.A.: How a Big Bank Ignored Non-White Neighborhoods

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made history with a huge settlement against City National Bank , a big bank based in Los Angeles. The bank is known as the “ Bank to the Stars ” because many of its customers are wealthy celebrities. But while it helped the rich and famous, it ignored entire communities of color. 🏠 What Happened? Between 2017 and 2020 , City National Bank did not open a single branch in any majority-Black or Hispanic neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. Even worse, it gave out very few home loans in those areas—even though many people lived there and wanted to buy homes . The DOJ looked into this and found some big problems: No branches in Black or Hispanic neighborhoods Almost no home loans in those same communities No outreach or marketing to people of color Most loans went to white, wealthy neighborhoods This is a modern example of redlining , a harmful and illegal practice where banks refuse to serve certain areas—usually based on race . 💸 What...