Not in My Neighborhood

Not in My Neighborhood examines Baltimore's history of housing discrimination, racial segregation, and real estate practices from the early 1900s through the post-WW2 era. The book documents how government policies, institutional racism, and real estate industry practices shaped the demographic patterns of Baltimore's neighborhoods. The narrative follows key figures including real estate agents, community organizers, politicians, and residents who played roles in Baltimore's housing struggles. Through extensive research and interviews, Pietila reconstructs the systems and decisions that determined who could live where in the city. The book connects historical events to present-day Baltimore, tracing how past housing policies continue to influence modern neighborhood divisions. Pietila draws from city archives, newspaper records, and personal accounts to establish links between past discriminatory practices and current residential patterns. This work stands as both a history of Baltimore and an examination of how racism becomes embedded in urban infrastructure and institutions. The book's relevance extends beyond one city to illuminate broader patterns of housing discrimination in American urban development.

Readers describe this as a detailed history of housing discrimination and segregation in Baltimore, backed by extensive research and historical documentation. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex housing policies and their impacts - Personal stories and interviews that illustrate larger trends - Thorough coverage of religious discrimination alongside racial issues - Specific details about individual Baltimore neighborhoods - Links between past policies and present-day conditions What readers disliked: - Dense writing style with many names and dates - Focus sometimes meanders between topics - Limited discussion of potential solutions - Some readers wanted more maps and visual aids Ratings: Goodreads: 4.12/5 (179 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (47 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Meticulously researched but reads like investigative journalism" - Goodreads reviewer "Should be required reading for Baltimore residents" - Amazon reviewer "The mortgage and real estate details get tedious" - Goodreads reviewer

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🏘️ Baltimore's real estate industry coined the term "blockbusting" in the 1950s, describing tactics where speculators deliberately spread racial fear to get white homeowners to sell at low prices. 📝 Author Antero Pietila spent 35 years as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun, giving him unique insight into the city's housing history and racial dynamics. 🌍 Before writing about Baltimore's housing discrimination, Pietila worked as a foreign correspondent in South Africa during apartheid, allowing him to draw parallels between different systems of segregation. 🏦 The book reveals how the Federal Housing Administration actively promoted segregation through its underwriting manual, which specifically discouraged banks from lending in racially mixed neighborhoods. 🗺️ Jewish communities in Baltimore faced many of the same housing restrictions as African Americans, with both groups being blocked from certain neighborhoods through restrictive covenants and lending discrimination.