S2 Ep 1: Olatunji Oboi Reed - Mobility Justice in Chicago

In Chicago, racial disparities run deep. A history of redlining, disinvestment, and movement of jobs to the suburbs have resulted in disparate life outcomes for Black and white residents. In transportation, this has manifested in longer transit commutes for Black residents, and a disproportionate number of cycling tickets given out in Black and brown neighborhoods, among other ways. 

Olatunji Oboi Reed is CEO & President of The Equiticity Racial Equity Movement. Based in Chicago, Equiticity advocates for mobility justice for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people of color. In this episode, Oboi discusses how Equiticity is tackling barriers to transportation access by collecting data about existing barriers, and developing legislation and policies that will codify and track the equitable distribution of resources across the city. 

“The root cause of all injustice experienced by Black, Brown and Indigenous people in our society is structural racism. Our oppression was and is by design. The most important work we must do is the dismantling of structural racism and the building of a society where Black, Brown and Indigenous people thrive. For those organizations that have still not arrived. A reckoning is required.”

To learn more about The Equiticity Racial Equity Movement, click here.

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Disclaimer: Political views raised by guests on the podcast do not reflect the views of TransitCenter.

Music: “Comma” - Blue Dot Sessions

Hosted and edited by Kapish Singla

Produced by TransitCenter