The Downward Spiral of Baltimore: How the Black Butterfly and the White L were Created

White Flight

After years of forced segregation created by redlining which denied mortgages loans to Black residents, white Baltimoreans began to leave the city in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Property Value Goes Down

In Baltimore real estate speculators known as Blockbusters drove down property values by scaring white residents out of their homes. White residents sold their properties at a deep discount and those same properties were often leased to Black residents. “In turn the tax base of the city collapsed” (Orser, 1999, p.4)

Taxes Go Up

Baltimore city has the highest property tax rate in the state of Maryland! According to BBMR, “There are a large number of vacant structures resulting in residents and businesses sharing the additional burden of the tax base that is not taxable due to vacancy”. (BBMR)

Services Suffer

Baltimore City services are historically underfunded due to lack of a tax base including public schools. Because higher poverty means high crime, Baltimore City crime prevention costs more.

Rock Bottom

California Newsreal states Rock bottom include “highways, prisons, waste storage, toxic facilities”. Currently Baltimore has a Highway To Nowhere, whose construction displaced hundred of Black Baltimoreans and an incinerator has been linked to health issues.

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Adapted from the California Newsreel/PBS Documentary “Race - The Power of an Illusion” and The Black Butterfly by Dr. Lawrence Brown