Question 1: Identify and expand on two (2) short term (historical) and (2) long term effects (contemporary) of redlining.
Question2: Choose one of these short- or long-term effects. Considering your declared major (GCH, HAP, Nursing, SW, as examples), propose an intervention/program focused on your field of study.
Question 3: Describe an additional Public Health outcome of Redlining not discussed in this article.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Effects of Redlining: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Question 1: Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Redlining
Short-Term Effects
1. Housing Disparities and Segregation:
Redlining, which began in the 1930s, directly contributed to the immediate segregation of communities by race and income. By systematically denying mortgage loans to residents in predominantly Black neighborhoods, redlining restricted their ability to buy homes and build wealth. This practice led to a stark division in housing quality, with white neighborhoods receiving investment and development while Black neighborhoods were left underfunded and neglected. The short-term effect was a consolidation of racial and economic segregation that would have lasting implications for community resources, access to quality education, and overall economic mobility.
2. Decline in Property Values:
The denial of investment in redlined areas resulted in a rapid decline in property values within those neighborhoods. With the lack of access to mortgages, many homeowners could not maintain or improve their properties, leading to deterioration. This not only affected the aesthetic appeal of these neighborhoods but also decreased the local economy’s viability as businesses chose to operate in more affluent areas. The immediate consequence was a cycle of disinvestment that further entrenched poverty and limited opportunities for residents.
Long-Term Effects
1. Wealth Inequity:
One of the most significant long-term effects of redlining is the persistent wealth gap between racial groups. Homeownership is a primary means of wealth accumulation in the U.S., and by denying this opportunity to Black families through redlining, they were unable to build equity over generations. Today, this has resulted in a substantial disparity in net worth between white families and families of color. For instance, according to the Federal Reserve, the median net worth for white families is approximately ten times greater than that of Black families, a direct outcome of historical injustices like redlining.
2. Health Disparities:
The long-term implications of redlining extend into public health outcomes as well. Communities historically affected by redlining often face poorer health outcomes due to lack of access to healthcare services, nutritious food options, and safe recreational spaces. These neighborhoods typically have higher rates of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, exacerbated by environmental factors like pollution from nearby industrial areas or lack of green spaces. The cumulative effect is a cycle of health inequities that disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
Question 2: Proposed Intervention Focused on Health Outcomes
Intervention: Community Health Initiative to Address Health Disparities
Given the long-term health disparities resulting from redlining, I propose developing a Community Health Initiative (CHI) aimed at improving health outcomes in historically redlined neighborhoods. This program would focus on three key components:
1. Mobile Health Clinics:
Establishing mobile health clinics to provide accessible healthcare services directly in underserved communities. These clinics would offer preventive care, screenings for chronic diseases, and education on healthy lifestyle choices. By bringing healthcare to residents rather than requiring them to navigate barriers such as transportation and cost, we can improve access to essential services.
2. Nutrition Education and Food Access Programs:
Partnering with local organizations to create nutrition education programs that teach residents about healthy eating on a budget. Additionally, we would work to establish community gardens and partnerships with local farmers’ markets to increase access to fresh produce within these neighborhoods.
3. Physical Activity Initiatives:
Developing safe spaces for physical activity by advocating for community parks and recreational areas, including organizing regular fitness classes or walking groups led by trained instructors. This would not only promote physical health but also encourage community cohesion and social interaction.
By implementing this comprehensive approach, we aim to mitigate the health disparities stemming from historical injustices such as redlining, fostering healthier communities for future generations.
Question 3: Additional Public Health Outcome of Redlining
Mental Health Impacts
An additional public health outcome of redlining that warrants attention is the impact on mental health among residents in historically marginalized neighborhoods. The stress associated with living in under-resourced areas—characterized by violence, economic instability, and limited access to mental health services—can lead to heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.
Residents often experience feelings of hopelessness and frustration due to systemic barriers that prevent upward mobility and access to basic necessities. Furthermore, the social stigma surrounding mental health can discourage individuals from seeking help, exacerbating issues related to untreated mental illness.
Addressing mental health outcomes related to redlining requires targeted interventions that increase awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to mental health resources in affected communities. This could include establishing community-based mental health support groups or integrating mental health services into existing community centers to ensure comprehensive care is available where it is needed most.
In summary, redlining has had profound short- and long-term effects on housing equity and public health outcomes. By understanding these impacts and proposing targeted interventions within public health, we can work toward rectifying past injustices and building healthier communities for all individuals.
