Privilege/Oppression

The subject of privilege and oppression is a touchy one. I remember once in middle school someone brought up white privilege and everyone looked at me awkwardly. I didn't really know what it meant at the time and still didn't have a good grasp on what it was until I read this chapter. Now this post we are suppose to look at public policy and how it promotes privilege and oppression. While I was thinking about this I happened to stumble across a video that had something to do with public policy, specifically housing in suburb areas. Now, it just might be me but I always wondered why there was never any African Americans, or Hispanic, or any other minority groups in suburban areas and this video explained why. Going back to the 1930's there was a loan program for people to loan money to buy houses. The loan was only available to people that were white. They also had designated areas that where only for white people and areas only black people could live. Years of this lead the white neighborhoods to have nice luxury things, like nice schools and fancy shopping centers while black communities since they had little money couldn't have things like that and there schools were basic things. Flash forward to now you would think that society would level out by now, but things haven't. For one it's hard for African Americans to acquire enough money to buy a house and if they do the loan interest is higher for an African american then it is for a white american with the same credit. This is a form of oppression. Blacks are forced to stay in "their communities" while whites can have nice communities and such. So that is what I found interesting. Here is the video link if you want to watch it. College humor made it in a segment called Adam Ruins Everything. It's pretty good, I would suggest watching it. The Disturbing History of the Suburb