The Legacy of Redlining and Segregation in Des Moines, Iowa addresses the impact of past federal and local policies, such as redlining and discriminatory housing practices, on the City of Des Moines. The primary purpose of this study is to provide a historical analysis that will help the public gain more knowledge about the history and experience of African Americans in Iowa. It will provide information about
1. how segregation was implemented and enforced
2. how segregation shaped the City of Des Moines
3. how segregation resulted in lower quality neighborhoods for African American families
4. how the effects of segregation persist
These items above will help provide answers to the overarching question posed by this research, which is, what are the lasting effects of redlining and segregation on African Americans and African American neighborhoods in Des Moines, Iowa?
Viewing and mapping racial composition data for Des Moines from 1920-2010 will supplement federal and local policy history to help analyze the lasting impact racial discrimination has had and continues to have on the city. This research intends to provide more public knowledge to the overall community about the African American community in Des Moines, which will hopefully initiate a broader conversation related to race and housing. Over the last two decades, several reports, books and media compilations discuss the history of race and discrimination in Iowa. Some of the most influential and essential sources include, the report, "One Economy: Building Opportunity for All, The State of Black Polk County" produced by the African American Leadership Forum-Des Moines in 2017, the book, Outside In: A History of African-Americans in Iowa, 1838 to 2000 written by Bill Silag, Susan Bridgford and Hal Chase, and multiple documentaries and information produced by Iowa Public Television. These sources provide a wide range of knowledge and historical background to aid in discussions surrounding race in Iowa. They will be used in this research to provide a historical reference to events in Iowa and be supplemented with a visual comparison of redlining and segregation using ArcGIS, web-mapping and literature.
I hope this research will supplement other projects starting to unfold around the City of Des Moines and the State of Iowa focusing on Civil Rights history and preservation of historic African American sites, as well as influence the ongoing discussions on revitalization and housing/workforce development in the region.
First, it addresses a subject which most Iowans do not want to discuss or think about. Talking about race and effects of past transgressions is a topic among Midwestern states that are actively pushed down and glossed over, however, in this political and divisive cultural climate gaining an understanding of people who are different from oneself is a crucial part in becoming a united country and moving forward in a positive direction. Second, through the knowledge of how communities have historically developed and the effects of the restrictive policies, we can plan and revitalize better, more tolerant and loving communities. I am of the mindset that planners are one of the first lines of defense when it comes to addressing issues of social justice through the creation of environments which allow conversations to happen and bring people together instead of separating them. So much of the way we view the world is based on how we grew up and where we grew up, if planners are able to understand the historical ramifications of past policies and how it still affects areas today, then we will be able to develop justice-based and community-centered areas which, as I said above, bring people together.
The history of African Americans in Des Moines has been pushed aside and ignored for decades. The Des Moines community, as a whole has continued to be predominately white (78% in 2010, 77% in 2012 and 2015, and 76% in 2017). While the city's demographics are starting to become more diverse, these populations still do not make up a significant percentage of the overall city's total population. Their culture and presence bring forth new policy and social discussions regarding support, services, and housing for the Des Moines Metropolitan area. When specifically looking at the African American community in Des Moines, there are areas in which still today we can see remnants of older, once vibrant communities that have been disregarded over time and have fallen into states of deterioration or urban renewal demolition. These are the areas today that are still seen as less desirable for most white citizens, meaning the only people willing or able to live there are low-income or diverse populations because they do not have as many options. Residential segregation, while illegal today, has left its mark on the landscape of small cities like Des Moines and because many people believe it is a thing of the past, there is no determination to resurface these ideas and histories that still impact the communities they reside in today.
The conversation regarding race, discrimination, and segregation is not a new one; however, it remains essential and unresolved. In Des Moines, much of the research done on the African American community is not easily accessible, there is no current research documenting redlining and segregation, and no specific policies to remedy this history of discrimination.
It is my hope that this research provides a platform for people to gain knowledge about past and present race relations, start more conversations about how this might have affected their communities and aid in changing how planning and decisions are done in the City of Des Moines. I believe this research's most important contribution is the production of material, provided to the public, in an easy and accessible format, as well as provide a service to support the good of the community.
It is the intention of this project to be a public education and community tool that will help to spark conversation and bring knowledge to the Des Moines community about the legacy that race has played in the city over time. It is well known that the conversation regarding race, discrimination, and segregation is not a new one; however, it remains unresolved. Segregation and discrimination against people of color is a critically important topic today that must be discussed among all ages and platforms, especially as it pertains to the City of Des Moines. It is my hope that this research be used by public educators to allow their students to gain a better understanding of their communities, be able to help them understand past and current race issues facing their communities, and allow for them to become involved in their communities through participating in conversations around the topic of race.
As a community tool, I hope that this online resource provides a platform for people to gain knowledge about past and present race relations, start more conversations about how this might have affected their communities and aid in shifting how decisions are made in the City of Des Moines. It is a goal of this online resource to be a living document that adds information over time from community members and organizations who want their stories heard.
As a living document, it is extremely important for this research to be provided to organizations who have other materials that could be used to supplement this information. These organizations would include the NAACP, the African American Museum of Iowa, the State Historical Society, Urban Dreams, Polk County Housing Trust Fund and any other community groups that have stories and information to share. These organizations will then use the website to compile stories, narratives, and historical information, as well as facilitate discussion around the issue of race in order to provide a well-rounded resource that can be used for public purposes, including education and community engagement.
Hi! My name is Kendyl Landeck. I am Master's Student at Iowa State University studying Community and Regional Planning. I have a passion for researching social justice topics and addressing issues of equity in Metropolitan areas. I hope that this research can be a beneifical tool for the community of Des Moines, Iowa to improve community engagement, promote better policy and to spark converstaions around the importance of race in all aspects of our lives.