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White Flight Slows, Stops, Reverses

Big cities influx of whites as more blacks move to suburbs

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 19, 2008 7:08 AM CDT
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(Newser) – White Americans are reversing a decades-old trend by moving back to big cities, the Wall Street Journal reports. In cities like Boston, Washington DC, Seattle and Atlanta, the white population is rising again as suburbanites flock to live in newly trendy city centers—and affluent African-Americans move to the suburbs. Eight of the 50 largest cities saw the proportion of whites increase between 2000 and 2006.

Friction is developing in many areas, over both race and class, as the makeup of neighborhoods changes once again. African-American restaurants, retailers and churches are losing their clientele; congressional districts are changing demographic makeup. The mayor of San Francisco, worried the city is losing "part of its soul," has formed a task force to try to retain its rapidly dwindling African-American population.

A billboard above a local hardware store on Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem advertises new condos for sale a block away from Marcus Garvey Park from $400,000 to $4 million, Aug. 1, 2007.
A billboard above a local hardware store on Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem advertises new condos for sale a block away from Marcus Garvey Park from $400,000 to $4 million, Aug. 1, 2007.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
San Francisco's traditionally black neighborhoods have been rapidly changing demographic as African-Americans move to the suburbs.
San Francisco's traditionally black neighborhoods have been rapidly changing demographic as African-Americans move to the suburbs.   ((c) star5112)
San Francisco has designated an area as the Fillmore Jazz Preservation District to celebrate the city's African-American culture.
San Francisco has designated an area as the "Fillmore Jazz Preservation District" to celebrate the city's African-American culture.   ((c) star5112)
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Children of 'white flight' revisit Chicago
Chicago Tribune

Gentrification changes Boston neighborhood
Boston Globe

 
demographics • cities • suburbs • African-Americans • white people • gentrification

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