Clandestine and Overt Initiatives
Historically, there have been both clandestine and overt initiatives, policies, and organizations that have functioned to limit the social and economic advancement of disadvantaged groups. These efforts often took the form of covert government programs, discriminatory laws, and secretive societal organizations. Although some initiatives were overtly established to enforce social hierarchies, others operated in more subtle, concealed ways. Here are a few notable examples: 1. Redlining and Financial Exclusion (1930s-1960s) Redlining was a systematic, government-backed practice by which certain neighborhoods—often those with a high population of Black or other minority residents—were deemed "high-risk" for investment by banks and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). These areas were outlined in red on maps to signify their exclusion from lending and investment. This effectively barred economically disadvantaged groups from accessing homeownership and prevented wealth accumu
