The film “Lexington, Resilience in the Redline” focuses on the history and present impact of residential segregation on Black land and wealth in Lexington, KY and the potential pathways to a more just future in our community.
DEWEESE STREET, LEXINGTON KY
What you’ll learn
Theme One: Post Civil War, The Story of the Hamlets.
The film will explore the location and history of these communities, and in doing so, debunk the myth that Lexington-Fayette County was built solely on historically White land and with White home ownership/money.
Theme Two: Downtown Lexington: Black Housing, late 1800s forward.
The film will highlight the rich history of Black communities in Lexington from the late 1800s to the present day. Black and White communities in Lexington included successful business leaders and professionals, hard-working parents, beloved children, and families that thrived, as well as families that found it hard to make ends meet. Even though African Americans often had lower incomes because of job discrimination and state-mandated school segregation, many families succeeded. Community members persevered in building supportive communities as well as organizations and institutions that enhanced their own lives and those of their neighbors.
Theme Three: 1940s-1970s: Racially Motivated Legal Segregation; White Dominated Suburban Growth.
The film will highlight the challenges faced by aspiring Black homeowners, and show the correlation between Black and White homeownership and the growth of Lexington’s White and Black middle class. During this period, many of Lexington’s White working families began building generational wealth by buying homes that would increase in value over the years. Government and business practices that favored Whites over African Americans made it difficult for Black families to build wealth in the same way. Much of this segregation was driven by the elevation of property values over human value.
Theme Four: Building Lexington’s Black Middle Class.
The film will also show the growth of Lexington’s Black middle class from the 1800s forward, and the financial ways Lexington has benefited from the Black middle class.
Theme Five: Impact of Realtor and Banker Actions to Present Day, Both Locally and Nationally
The film will show the impact of Realtor and banker actions decades ago on creating segregated communities and the effects that persist through the present day.
Theme Six: Financial Impact of Inequitable Housing to Present Day; Wealth Gap, Home Ownership Gap.
The film will show the persistence of the Black-White wealth and home ownership gaps, resulting in large part from government and business practices that favored Whites over African Americans.
Theme Seven: Current Local Housing Issues and Policies.
The film will describe the current state of housing in Lexington and the recent and future policy changes and questions that can impact the opportunity for equitable homeownership for our city and nation.
Theme Eight: Spotlight People and Organizations that are Doing the Work.
The film will highlight organizations and city leaders that are working to make sure homeownership stays accessible, and those working to strengthen positive Black identity and increase Black wealth in the face of the ongoing challenges caused in large part by government-sponsored 20th century segregation.
Theme Nine: Call to Action: Where and How to Explore More and Make an Impact
