Fresh produce and unprocessed foods are becoming more rare in American cities. These so-called “food deserts” or “food mirages” are communities where the residents rely on fast food or cannot afford the grocery stores in the area. While some might think that food deserts exist because of the people present in the community, they are actually caused by systemic racism’s lasting impact on black communities.
How Food Deserts Started – Redlining’s History
Redlining started in the 1930s, when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) decided that housing loans could not be distributed in neighborhoods whose value could decrease if black people started moving there according to the Federal Reserve. This caused the creation of majority black neighborhoods, which continue to be low-income neighborhoods in the present. Although the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, the rippling effects of redlining and segregation are still causing negative effects in black communities. One of the effects of redlining happens to be inadequate access to affordable grocery stores and the inability to eat healthy food options in black communities.
Redlining and Food Insecurity
Since the beginning of redlining, many negative outcomes have occurred for black and minority Americans. The National Institutes of Health defines supermarket redlining as “a phenomenon when major chain supermarkets are disinclined to locate their stores in inner cities or low-income neighborhoods and usually pull their existing stores out and relocate them to suburbs.” To simplify, low income neighborhoods do not have affordable grocery stores due supermarkets not making enough profit. This ends up impacting a majority of the black people in America, as black people make up 20% of people living in low-income homes according to the US Census in 2022.
As long as these justice issues are resolved in the government, minorities will continue to face unhealthy food options for generations.
Mental and Physical Risk
There is a higher chance that if you do not have food security, you are more prone to health risks like obesity or diabetes. The odds of obesity increases to 32% of adults who are food insecure compared to food secure adults. When your neighborhood only has fast food or you do not have time to make your own meals due to working long hours, you face a lot of health risks that are out of your control.
Stress can also build up as well and can cause depression and other mental health problems. Depression is 2 to 3 times more likely to occur in people with diabetes. Overall, the people impacted the most by food insecurity are black people and other people of color, who have been facing many battles against systemic racism.
Creating Healthy Food Spaces
Tackling food insecurity can best be solved by changing regulations, but it can also be solved by supporting those in your local community. Many organizations are dedicated to bringing affordable and healthy food options to low income communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides resources and support to those who want to bring urban agriculture to their city as well as funding. In addition, organizations like The Ron Finley Project, the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, and Whitelock Community Farm are helping boost the presence of small-scale urban farming according to the National Resources Defense Council.
As more people become more educated on how systemic racism impacts their lives, the more we will be able to break from the system and obtain true justice. Being able to produce our own produce gets the community involved in the food production system in America and how it is inaccessible to many citizens.