The End of White Flight?
Since 1940, “white flight” has affected the city’s demographics, not to mention its real estate market; every year, the population of white, non-Hispanic residents in the inner city decreased. That is, until the turn of this century. The NY Times reports that since 2000, 100,000 non-Hispanic whites have returned to the city, and half of…
Since 1940, “white flight” has affected the city’s demographics, not to mention its real estate market; every year, the population of white, non-Hispanic residents in the inner city decreased. That is, until the turn of this century. The NY Times reports that since 2000, 100,000 non-Hispanic whites have returned to the city, and half of that increase occurred between 2006 and 2007. Experts call the shift a “harbinger of racial equilibrium” and a testament to “diversity and ethnic heterogeneity.” For some, of course, such shifts signal an undertone of gentrification; it’s not always good news. And some of those folks returning from the ‘burbs work in the financial industry, lured by family-friendly, high-end projects that are sometimes seen as gated communities within the city; no one’s sure if they’ll stay as the economy sours. Still, the census findings reveal a strong city — stronger, in fact than some of the suburbs. The percentage of folks paying more than 30% of income on rent/mortgage dropped in NYC; it rose in the suburbs.
White Flight Has Reversed, Census Finds [NY Times]
Photo by thunderhoof
Thank you for the New York City perspective on this national trend in urban demographics. You quote two comments from the New York Times article “White flight has reverse, census finds”, stating that “experts call the shift a Harbinger of racial equilibrium” and a testament to diversity and ethnic heterogeneity”. I was greatly surprised that you would agree with this statement especially in light of your particular metropolitan area, since it is already ethnically diverse, with the 2007 American Community Survey showing that whites already account for a significant part of the demographics within New York City’s metro area. I am interested to know if you feel, living in the area, as though there is something different about these “new” city residents that sets them apart in diversity than those already there. It seemed from your blog that these new comers may in fact inhabit communities or developments that are less diverse and integrated “seen as gated communities within the city.” It seems in hindsight that whites, or more specifically the middle and upper economic groups, left the city in the 1940’s primarily because the suburbs provided the room that baby boom parents needed, a sound financial investment and a cleaner, safer existence than was available in the cities at the time. Now that many of the factors that made cities dirty (e.g. manufacturing) have ended or moved out of central cities, city life may seem more enticing, offering lucrative new economic and personal incentives to young professionals today with smaller families. Perks such as an active community, shorter commutes and many cultural and art opportunities that are afforded by their social economic class also increase the appeal of urban life for professionals. Census data reveals a distinct trend of strengthening cities not only New York but also Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, etc. However, as you elude to, this trend may be more closely linked to evidence of economics, than to any real trend in racial diversity.
Really momo284, you need to stop seeing whites as monolithic and realize that a southern italian, a norwegian, a scot and an appalachian-born-and-bred are all very different characters. Perhaps you should speak to one of them.
Evidence of white flight fromt the suburbs. Please look at the demographic information for Metro Atlanta
Can whites be gentrified? Please look at Hoboken. Where the long time Italian and Italian-American residents could not believe the waves of yuppies on Washington Street. The old stores,gone. In their place, lots of bars.
My question is when are these whites going to fly the coop again. When I ask them why they moved here (CH), they say for the diversity. What diversity it’s mostly all white. It may be trendy but it’s all white bread and painfully boring.
Newbie: You are preaching and spewing bullshit. You don’t want to deal with a lot of crap that is of your own doing. It is easier for you to blame others for your own failures than grow up and take responsibility for yourself.
You didn’t help me understand anything.
You can hide behind racism (yours and others), but it doesn’t change the fact that you simply have no clue what you are talking about.
“My move from the west village to brooklyn was based on economic necessity, DOW.” (Fast Freddy)
“My move from Carroll Gardens (where I lived for 15 years) to South Brooklyn was also based on economic necessity. I’m a white woman, FWIW.” (I_haz_TWO_toilets)
“My move from the UES to Fort Greene was not based on economic necessity…or was it? But that was a long time ago. I’m not a white woman.”(BrooklynGreene)
Wow! 11233 – you’re really venting aren’t you?? While you’re preaching & spewing a lot bullshits and naivete on the system, at least I am helping you to connect with your truer and inner feelings about how you see your fellow neighbors.
We aren’t talking about what it’s like being a minority in the US newbie. What we’re ultimately talking about is the lack of affordable housing for the vast majority of people in NYC who fall in between those who make millions of dollars per year, and those who qualify for gov’t assistance.
Racism against minorities does exist. No one is saying it doesn’t. It also exists against white people as well. It sucks.
Newbie: You see the world through Afro-centric glasses with racism around every corner.
Here is yet another clue for you: Blacks can be racist. And not only towards whites but any and all non-blacks. In my neighborhood, blacks make comments to the whites, south Asians, east Asians, Latinos and – yes – other blacks who don’t act “black enough.” No one dare question that, right? No one should say anything because that is not right, correct? Because all blacks are poor and stupid and they got that way through the active process of decrimination of all non-blacks and “uppitty” blacks, right? Guess what, there is no committee to keep the black race down. If you fail, it is because you failed. No one in the city gives a crap about you. It is every man, woman and child for themselves. And that crosses all color lines. Take personal responsibility for your behavior and suffer teh consequences. It isn’t easy for any of us, but that is how it works in the city.
Your inability to accept the consequences of your behave and situation in life reeks of immaturity. It is easier to blame others than take responisibilty for your own behavior.