Blog Post 2

 

My map depicts two layers that represent the comparison of the HOLC redlining districts of neighborhood grades and 2010 census specifically showing the ratio of African American home owners in Columbia, SC. Grade A, B, C, and D are represented by the colors green, blue, yellow, pink. These grades were assigned by the HOLC between 1935-1940 to give quantitative data representing mortgage security of these areas, ranging from grade A being “good” to D being “hazardous”. The 2010 census layer is shown in the variation of blues, darker blue representing higher numbers of African American owned homes. By using these two layers we can compare assigned mortgage security areas to African American owned homes. It appears according to this map that higher rated neighborhoods have a lower percentage of African American owned homes. This map helps to show that HOLC determines grades not just by socioeconomic factors but also heavily on racial demographic. One of the limitations of this map is that the HOLC grades were created between 1935-1940 but the census being used is from 2010. I think to see a better historical comparison of assigned grades would be to use a census closer to the time period of when the grades were created. Other sources that could be helpful to better understand the effects of redlining would be to add more layers that can show financial income and racial demographics closer to the time period when grading was determined. It would also be helpful if the layer for the HOLC grading was expanded to a larger area outside of Columbia to give a better understanding of red lining being determined by racial demographics.