Skip to main content

Posts

πŸŒ† 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...
Recent posts

🚫 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. πŸ•΅️ 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. πŸ—£️ 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 . πŸ’Έ What...

🚫 When a Bank Says Nothing… But Still Excludes You: Lakeland Bank's Redlining Case

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice reached a $13 million settlement with Lakeland Bank , a regional lender based in New Jersey. Why? Because from 2015 to 2021 , Lakeland consistently avoided serving Black and Hispanic communities —especially around Newark , one of the most diverse cities in the state. This wasn’t a case of obvious racism. There were no slurs. No hateful messages. But the bank’s actions—or lack of them— still caused real harm . 🏦 What Did Lakeland Bank Do? The DOJ accused Lakeland of modern redlining —meaning they didn’t treat everyone fairly based on where they lived. Here’s what the investigation found: ❌ Zero branches in majority-Black or Hispanic neighborhoods πŸ“‰ Very few home loans given out in communities of color—far fewer than other banks nearby πŸ›‘ No marketing or partnerships with groups in Newark or similar areas πŸ‘₯ No loan officers assigned to help people in high-minority ZIP codes In short: Lakeland wasn’t present in the plac...

🏠 How Racism and Redlining Collided at Trident Mortgage

In 2022, one of the biggest redlining cases in U.S. history came to light—and it was shocking not just for what was done , but how openly it was done . Trident Mortgage Company , once part of Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices , didn’t just ignore Black and Latino communities in the Philadelphia area… … some of its employees openly mocked and insulted them . This case—led by the Department of Justice , the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) , and several state offices—revealed how racism and redlining went hand-in-hand at Trident. 🚨 What Did Trident Do? The investigation found several major problems: 🏒 All 24 Trident offices were in majority-white neighborhoods πŸ“£ Almost all their advertising targeted white communities only πŸ‘₯ No loan officers were placed in Black or Latino neighborhoods πŸ“§ Internal emails and texts showed racist jokes , slurs, and even a photo of an employee with a Confederate flag Let that sink in. This wasn’t just quiet discriminati...

What is Lending Discrimination?

  πŸ›‘️ What Is Lending Discrimination? (And How You Can Protect Yourself) By The Constructive House Channel Imagine you and a friend both want to buy the same kind of bike. You have the same amount of money, the same good grades, and you’ve saved up just like they did. But the person selling the bikes tells you the price is higher—or says you can’t buy the bike at all. That wouldn’t be fair, right? Well, something like this can happen with loans , too—and it’s called lending discrimination . πŸ’° What Is a Loan? A loan is money that a bank or credit union gives you to help pay for a home, car, or school. You have to pay it back over time. But sometimes, banks treat people unfairly when they ask for a loan. 🚩 What Is Lending Discrimination? Lending discrimination happens when a bank treats someone unfairly just because of things like: Their skin color Where they live Their age If they’re a man or woman That’s not just unfair—it’s against the law . πŸ˜• What Mig...

Ameris Bank and Modern-Day Redlining: A Breakdown of the USA v. Ameris Bank Lawsuit

In a landmark case, the U.S. government has accused Ameris Bank of engaging in modern-day redlining , systematically denying mortgage services to Black and Hispanic communities. This lawsuit highlights the persistent racial disparities in home lending and underscores the need for accountability in the financial sector. In our latest video, we take a deep dive into the 22-page legal complaint , dissecting the government’s allegations and what they mean for fair housing and financial justice. What’s in the Lawsuit? The USA v. Ameris Bank case alleges that the bank intentionally avoided offering mortgage loans in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, violating fair housing laws . Here’s a breakdown of the key points: ✅ Allegations of Discriminatory Lending – The lawsuit claims that Ameris Bank deliberately limited its lending presence in communities of color while expanding in majority-white areas. ✅ The Impact of Redlining Today – Decades after redlining was outlawed, minor...