Public housing projects have played a significant role in Black history in the United States. They emerged as a response to the dire living conditions faced by many Black Americans in urban areas, particularly during the early to mid-20th century.

The first public housing projects were established during the New Deal era in the 1930s, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's efforts to address the housing crisis caused by the Great Depression. These projects were meant to provide affordable housing for low-income families, including many Black families who faced discrimination in the private housing market.

However, public housing projects quickly became segregated, with Black Americans often forced into overcrowded and poorly maintained complexes in segregated neighborhoods. This segregation perpetuated racial inequalities and concentrated poverty among Black communities.

One of the most well-known public housing projects in Black history is the Cabrini-Green Homes in Chicago. Built in the 1940s, Cabrini-Green became synonymous with urban poverty, crime, and neglect. The harsh living conditions in projects like Cabrini-Green fueled social unrest and sparked debates about the effectiveness of public housing as a solution to housing inequality.

In the following decades, many public housing projects across the country fell into disrepair and became breeding grounds for crime and violence. This led to a shift towards mixed-income housing developments and the demolition of some high-rise projects in an effort to deconcentrate poverty and improve living conditions.

Despite their troubled history, public housing projects remain an important part of Black history, reflecting the systemic racism and inequalities that have shaped the urban landscape in the United States. Efforts to address these issues continue today through policies aimed at promoting affordable housing, community development, and racial equity.