Urban Planning, Race, and Social Justice

How do history, race, and policy intersect to shape our cities? To build equitable communities, modern planners and urban advocates must understand the deep-rooted social structures and historical decisions that continue to influence metropolitan areas today. This text-based course guides you through the critical intersections of urban planning, racial identity, and systemic policy, from historical foundations to modern community-led recovery efforts. You will begin by learning foundational concepts of spatial justice, historical policies, and how early political ideologies shaped land ownership and urban development in the United States. Through structured written analyses and case studies, including the complex socio-political landscape of New Orleans and post-disaster recovery, you will examine how systemic inequalities are built directly into the physical environment. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational concepts of spatial justice and systemic racial issues in urban planning - Analyze how historical policies and early political ideologies influenced land distribution and city development - Examine the role of race, identity, and socioeconomic factors in community resilience and disaster recovery - Identify modern planning strategies that promote equity, inclusion, and environmental justice - Apply critical thinking to real-world urban planning scenarios and community development challenges This course is structured to build your knowledge from the ground up, starting with key terminology and historical context before moving into modern case studies and practical planning frameworks. You will read comprehensive text-based explanations, analyze historical policy decisions, and complete reflective exercises designed to deepen your understanding. This course is designed for beginners, community advocates, aspiring urban planners, and anyone interested in the social dynamics of city development. No prior background in urban planning or policy is required to begin. Start your journey toward understanding and building more equitable cities today.