Redlining and its influence on educational opportunities in the school system: a collaborative auto-ethnography

Why is there a waiting list at the public school "across town?" Using a family's home address to determine a student's school placement mimics redlining tactics in real estate and limits educational accessibility. Critical Race Theory (CRT) provides a platform to challenge systems that perpetuate inequities that ultimately impact the educational experiences of specific races (Bell, 2004). Although research exploring the inequalities existing in the school system are plentiful, the conversation surrounding the impact one's home address has on the decision making process of families is often overlooked. A multi-generational critical auto-ethnography of my own family may present authentic data as it relates to Black families' experiences with educational redlining in Oakland, California. Inquiries were made to uncover what motivates parents to participate in the open enrollment process, even if the options to meet the needs of specific children are not available. An auto-ethnographic component provides additional insight into the generational impact educational redlining has on families.