Racial Caste System
The modern global economic system was founded on the extraction and exploitation of Black and Brown peoples through colonialism, slavery, systemic racism, and exclusion from federal housing programs, leading to segregation, mass incarceration, redlining, and discriminatory lending. A couple of good references are Born in Blackness by Howard French, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, Evicted by Matthew Desmond and The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein.

The Financialization of Housing
In recent years, housing and real estate have become investment assets for hedge funds and corporations, resulting in skyrocketing prices that surpass income growth. The pandemic further exacerbated this trend, making affordable housing unattainable without substantial government investment due to the rising costs of materials and labor.

The American Dream
& Nuclear Family 
The concept of suburban single-family homes with white picket fences, initially promoted by the federal government to revive the US economy during the Great Depression, also perpetuated racial segregation and deepened the racial wealth gap. Previously, communities were more racially and intergenerationally integrated, fostering social and economic mutual support. However, under challenging economic circumstances and high housing expenses, this individualistic approach is financially unsustainable (except for the wealthy) and contributes to isolation and political polarization.