ABOUT
Breathing History: The Legacy of Redlining in Atlanta is a digital exploration of how discriminatory housing policies from nearly a century ago continue to shape the health and environment of Atlanta’s Black communities today. This project uncovers the direct line connecting 1930s redlining maps-created to segregate and disinvest Black neighborhoods-to present-day disparities in air quality, asthma rates, and access to green spaces.
Through interactive timelines, historical maps, and data visualizations, our website reveals how neighborhoods once deemed “hazardous” for investment are now hotspots for pollution, substandard housing, and chronic respiratory illness. These outcomes are not accidents of geography or fate-they are the result of policy decisions that placed highways, factories, and environmental hazards in the heart of Black communities, while withholding resources and infrastructure improvements.
By blending historical research with the latest public health and environmental data, Breathing History demonstrates that Atlanta’s health disparities are rooted in systemic racism and ongoing urban neglect. Our goal is to empower visitors with knowledge, inspire advocacy for environmental justice, and highlight policy solutions that can help reverse decades of harm.
Driven by Justice:
Restoring Breath to Atlanta’s Communities
For too long, Black neighborhoods in Atlanta have carried the burden of polluted air, inadequate green spaces, and chronic health issues-all rooted in a legacy of redlining and systemic neglect. Our passion is to shine a light on these injustices and advocate for a city where every resident can breathe freely and thrive.
Uncovering Hidden Histories
We are committed to exposing the deep connections between past policies and present-day health disparities. By mapping the lines drawn on 1930s redlining maps to today’s asthma rates and environmental hazards, we reveal how deliberate decisions-not chance-created the unequal Atlanta we see today. This truth-telling is the first step toward accountability and change.
Inspiring Hope and Action
We believe knowledge is power. By sharing stories, data, and solutions, we aim to empower residents, students, and policymakers to join the fight for environmental equity. Our passion is rooted in hope-the hope that Atlanta’s future can be healthier, fairer, and more just for all its people.
Mapping inequality
Where you live shouldn’t determine how you breathe.
In Atlanta, the lines drawn on maps nearly a century ago still shape who gets clean air, green spaces, and a healthy life. “Mapping Equality” uncovers the legacy of redlining-a policy that once marked Black neighborhoods as “hazardous” and cut them off from investment. Today, those same neighborhoods face higher pollution, fewer parks, and soaring rates of asthma.
By connecting historical maps to present-day health and environmental data, we reveal how inequality was built into the very geography of our city. Explore how these invisible boundaries continue to affect lives-and discover why understanding the past is the first step toward justice and a healthier Atlanta for all.