By Ivana Mowry-Mora
Social Map of Chicago by Race & Ethnicity
Social Map of Chicago by Housing Values
Social Map of Chicago Showing Empty Lots, Parks, Metro Lines, and Hospitals
Chicago Public Schools by School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) rating
African American communities have long wielded cartography as a powerful instrument for documenting injustice and survival strategies. Traditional cartography frequently failed to represent the true experiences of Black communities, particularly during periods of significant urban transformation. The construction of interstate highways, for instance, displaced thousands of Black residents from established neighborhoods, a demographic shift that conventional maps rarely acknowledged. These urban renewal projects of the 1950s and 1960s devastated countless Black communities across America.
The strategic use of mapping gained particular prominence during the civil rights movement. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee employed detailed cartographic analysis to expose systemic inequalities across the American South, creating visual evidence of income and education disparities.
Contemporary mapping projects have expanded upon these historical foundations, employing digital tools to create more comprehensive representations of Black experiences. The Folded Map Project, created by artist-activist Tonika Lewis Johnson, exemplifies this evolution, connecting addresses across Chicago’s racial divide to highlight persistent inequalities. This innovative approach brings together residents from different neighborhoods to foster dialogue and understanding about urban segregation patterns.
“Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the United States. This is a direct result of racist policies that have transpired over the course of more than a century. After large numbers African American migrated into Chicago starting in 1916, the Chicago Real Estate Board instituted racially-restrictive policies that prevented blacks from purchasing, leasing and occupying housing beyond a set of small boundaries on the South Side of the city. When black residents eventually moved into largely white neighborhoods, real estate agents encouraged white homeowners to sell their homes and move to the suburbs, convincing them their home values would soon drop. Housing segregation has declined gradually in the Chicago area in the past ten years. Nonetheless, people of color still do not have great mobility within the city. Historically, Chicago residents have held preconceived notions of different neighborhoods in the city, based on lines drawn in the past. With growth has come new types of opportunities and problems while long-standing issues remain unresolved. As the city pushes forward into the new eras, the responsibility to change is on us all.” – Folded Map Project
Modern mapping projects serve as valuable educational resources, helping students and researchers understand the complex relationships between geography, race, and social justice. These tools illuminate patterns of segregation, discrimination, and resistance that have shaped American cities. By making these histories accessible through interactive digital platforms, mapping initiatives engage new generations in understanding their community’s past.
Sources:
New wave of mapping projects reveal untold Black stories
Project Context — Folded Map Project