Redline

They found new ways to keep us down.

When it wasn’t enough
to beat us
or openly mistreat us
or burn our houses down
or subjugate us with dogs or water hoses or fiery crosses
or hang us from trees
They drew a (red) line
not in the sand
but in the cities
among the neighborhoods
to keep us segregated
and separated
from access and opportunity
from shelter and community
They drew a (red) line
on little maps
and they stymied our progress
cutoff our access
hung us out to dry
wounded, like an abscess
because they drew a (red) line
and they wouldn’t let us cross it



For more information about redlining, click here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/realestate/what-is-redlining.html?smid=nytcor...