Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation

A must see, and what should be required viewing in history classes. We must understand what our city and nation has done if we are committed to correct today’s issues in front of us. “Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation, a docuseries that lays bare the true stories behind how #Chicago and its suburbs devised discriminatory policies to create the nation’s most sweeping system of racially segregated communities — and how the consequences of those policies persist to this day.”

This afternoon, The Chicago Community Trust's Collective Power team hosted a screening of Episode 3 from Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation, a docuseries that lays bare the true stories behind how #Chicago and its suburbs devised discriminatory policies to create the nation’s most sweeping system of racially segregated communities — and how the consequences of those policies persist to this day. The Trust is proud to have supported this film. Following the screening, the Trust's Iona Calhoun-Battiste LPC moderated a panel discussion and Q&A with historians and experts from the film, Dr. Charles Branham and Dr. Adam Green. Thank you to Marisa Novara for our opening remarks, to all our attendees for joining, and to the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for having us. Watch the series: https://bit.ly/3YaOXsK

I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in our recent screening of Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation event. Your engagement and enthusiasm made it a truly memorable experience! A special shout-out goes to Adrianna Parker, whose tireless efforts and exceptional organizational skills were instrumental in orchestrating this event. Adrianna, your dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed. Thank you for making this possible! I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the BCP team for the unwavering support of civic storytelling and media journalism in the name of democracy. Our commitment plays a crucial role in fostering a community that values history and upholds democratic principles. Together, we continue to make strides in promoting meaningful conversations and inspiring civic engagement. Let’s keep the momentum going! #CommunityEngagement #Mediamakers #CivicStorytelling #ThankYou #Gratitude #Democracy #ChicagoCommunityTrust

“It’s about stepping back and looking at this pattern of: ‘Who has access and who has opportunity to build #wealth and to build financial stability, and who in Chicago today still does not?’” Institute Founding Director Darrick Hamilton and The Chicago Community Trust President & CEO Andrea Sáenz joined WBBM | CBS Chicago to discuss our new "Color of Wealth in Chicago" report. Read takeaways and listen to the full interview: https://bit.ly/4exLY33 Read more from the interview about ways to address Chicago's dramatic racial wealth divides: https://bit.ly/4eDiKQA #ColorOfWealth #Chicago

When The Chicago Community Trust committed to working to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap for Chicagoans, we knew we would need robust data to better understand how we might focus our efforts most effectively. Last Monday, we hosted The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy to release "Color of Wealth in Chicago," a report that, for the first time, details the relative wealth, assets, and debt positions across racial and ethnic groups in the #Chicago area. The study shows that the net worth — total assets minus total debt — of white Chicagoans far outpaces that of Black, Mexican (U.S. and foreign-born), and Puerto Rican households, even among groups with comparable education and marriage rates. While the report’s findings are bleak, they are not surprising, particularly for people struggling to make ends meet, let alone save and invest. We commissioned this study to help us and others engaged in the critical work to reverse these unacceptable disparities, gain clarity and recommit to doing our part. #ColorOfWealth Read more from Trust President @ CEO Andrea Sáenz: https://lnkd.in/g5QS3DEs

"The median Black family in the Chicago area has virtually no net worth, while Mexican and Puerto Rican families have only a fraction of white families’ wealth, a new study of the area’s racial inequities found." Block Club Chicago NFP shared takeaways from our new "Color of Wealth in Chicago" report and yesterday's launch event with The Chicago Community Trust (CCT), where we discussed the history and policies behind Chicago's stark racial wealth divides, and pathways to building a more equitable and inclusive economy. “'We know how to do this,' [CCT President & CEO Andrea] Sáenz said. 'We’ve seen families grow wealth over time. In Chicago, our charge is to make sure those things are equitably available to all of our families, with a focus on removing the barriers to those families who have clearly been left out over decades and generations.'" Read the article, including comments from Institute Founding Director and principal investigator of the study Darrick Hamilton: https://bit.ly/4euVbJC #ColorOfWealth #Chicago

In Chicago, the median net worth of White families is $210,000. For U.S. born Mexican families, it’s $40,500. And for Black families, it’s $0. Color of Wealth in Chicago, our new study funded by and released in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust, provides a never-before-seen look at how wealth intersects with race, ethnicity, and country of origin across the Chicago metropolitan area. Revealing dramatic racial and ethnic wealth disparities, the report examines how the structure of wealth in Chicago has been shaped by the region’s history, policy, and practices, from housing and economic development to the justice system and the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore the report for a detailed assessment of Chicagoans’ economic well-being, including new data showing strong public support for policy proposals to build a more inclusive, equitable economy in Chicago and beyond. https://lnkd.in/gfn7UTww #ColorOfWealth #Chicago

When The Chicago Community Trust committed to working to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap for Chicagoans, we knew we would need robust data to better understand how we might focus our efforts most effectively. Last Monday, we hosted The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy to release "Color of Wealth in Chicago," a report that, for the first time, details the relative wealth, assets, and debt positions across racial and ethnic groups in the #Chicago area. The study shows that the net worth — total assets minus total debt — of white Chicagoans far outpaces that of Black, Mexican (U.S. and foreign-born), and Puerto Rican households, even among groups with comparable education and marriage rates. While the report’s findings are bleak, they are not surprising, particularly for people struggling to make ends meet, let alone save and invest. We commissioned this study to help us and others engaged in the critical work to reverse these unacceptable disparities, gain clarity and recommit to doing our part. #ColorOfWealth Read more from Trust President @ CEO Andrea Sáenz: https://lnkd.in/g5QS3DEs

💸 We know the #racialwealthgap exists, but *why* does it exist, and how did it come to be? 💭 This is the question explored throughout Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation - and in short, we examine how discriminatory housing practices created, and diminished, wealth for white and Black families respectively. 🏠 Our first episode, "The Color Tax", explores the devastating impact #contractsales had on Black wealth-building and racial comity in Chicago, and their role in jumpstarting a #wealthgap that continued to widen as white affluence grew. 💰 These contracts became the only option for Black families to purchase a home after being denied loans from almost all banks. But what they didn't understand was they weren't building any equity with their monthly payments. So while the white middle class was rapidly expanding and benefitting from federal policies that promoted their home equity, Black families were forced to pay premiums for homes that they could lose after missing just a single payment. ➡️ Check out the trailer for episode one, "The Color Tax", below. To stream the full series, go to: https://lnkd.in/eXqfiy89

⬇️ Let us know what you think! Watch the full series here: https://lnkd.in/eXqfiy89