Housing is an issue that affects individuals in nearly every aspect of their lives. Substandard housing can have severe negative effects on mental and physical health, ability to find and secure a job, and even ability for individuals to locate different housing options in the future. In the United States, a long history of redlining and urban renewal has resulted in Black individuals being negatively impacted by the current housing system much more so than other racial groups across the country. Additionally, negative ramifications are often felt more strongly by Black women living in communities that have been subjected to urban renewal. To study this situation more in-depth, the history and contemporary effects of redlining and urban renewal in the city of Asheville, North Carolina will be examined, with a focus on the lived experience of Black women. This will be accomplished through a content analysis of oral histories from Black female residents in Asheville along with other historical documents regarding urban renewal. This study takes an intersectional approach to research, examining how the dual identities of being Black and being a woman work together to give Black women a unique experience with redlining and urban renewal.
