Don't worry, folks, gentrification is GOOD for Black people
You have to love the sheer audacity/cluelessness that permeates this article by the SF Chronicle. Front Page. Above the fold. (For those who still think in newspaper terms.) Headline, you ask?
"The Bay Area's Minority Migration Population Shift: Inner cities shrink as minorities seek better schools and lives."
Hm.
The story opens with an anecdote about a Black family that decided to move from Berkeley to Antioch because:
And this is the only analysis they offer of the possible reasons behind the sudden shift of Black and Latino populations away from city centers. There's no discussion of sky-rocketing rents. Nothing about the changing character of the city. Nothing about the changing nature of the types of jobs that are available in cities. Nothing about the prevalence of young, white, college-educated, 20-somethings moving to San Francisco and commuting to Silicon Valley to take part in the next dot com boom/bust. Nope.
Black and Latinos are moving because they can have a better life in the burbs. That 90-minute commute doesn't bother the author of that first quote at all.
One quotation (not even a poorly-conducted survey!) provides the rationale behind the entire 'behind-the-colon' portion of the headline.
What I find interesting about this article is the not-so-subtle comparison of minority movement to the burbs with the "White Flight" to the burbs that took place in the 70s and 80s. I've seen it before -- mostly from White liberals who whine: 'I can't do anything right! If I move to the suburbs, I'm participating in White flight! If I move to the City, I'm gentrifying!' This is coupled with an almost manifest destiny approach to movement towards outlying areas.
Go forth, young non-white, and grow up with the suburbs.
For those keeping track (ha), I plan to revisit this issue in the future, because I think this article brings up another important fact behind recent population shifts. Namely, that these shifts aren't only the result of forced displacement, but are also the result of rational decisions to improve one's economic situation. When addressing these sorts of population shifts, into and out of cities, it's important to keep in mind each individual's decision to move or stay put. Another time.
"The Bay Area's Minority Migration Population Shift: Inner cities shrink as minorities seek better schools and lives."
Hm.
The story opens with an anecdote about a Black family that decided to move from Berkeley to Antioch because:
"I have a big, huge yard, and I love the weather. The streets are cleaner, and the schools are better."
And this is the only analysis they offer of the possible reasons behind the sudden shift of Black and Latino populations away from city centers. There's no discussion of sky-rocketing rents. Nothing about the changing character of the city. Nothing about the changing nature of the types of jobs that are available in cities. Nothing about the prevalence of young, white, college-educated, 20-somethings moving to San Francisco and commuting to Silicon Valley to take part in the next dot com boom/bust. Nope.
Black and Latinos are moving because they can have a better life in the burbs. That 90-minute commute doesn't bother the author of that first quote at all.
One quotation (not even a poorly-conducted survey!) provides the rationale behind the entire 'behind-the-colon' portion of the headline.
What I find interesting about this article is the not-so-subtle comparison of minority movement to the burbs with the "White Flight" to the burbs that took place in the 70s and 80s. I've seen it before -- mostly from White liberals who whine: 'I can't do anything right! If I move to the suburbs, I'm participating in White flight! If I move to the City, I'm gentrifying!' This is coupled with an almost manifest destiny approach to movement towards outlying areas.
Go forth, young non-white, and grow up with the suburbs.
For those keeping track (ha), I plan to revisit this issue in the future, because I think this article brings up another important fact behind recent population shifts. Namely, that these shifts aren't only the result of forced displacement, but are also the result of rational decisions to improve one's economic situation. When addressing these sorts of population shifts, into and out of cities, it's important to keep in mind each individual's decision to move or stay put. Another time.
posted by Megan at 6:58 PM
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