The current racial make-up of the United States is (approximately)- White- 58%, Latino- 18%, African-American-16% and Asian-6%. The first question this brings to mind is, “where in the US is there actually a community that is 58% White, 18% Latino, 16% African-American and 6% Asian? The second question is, “if every community were at least something resembling this, what would become of racism?” In the ‘80’s and ‘90’s gentrification was celebrated as progress. Of course, the celebration was completely within the white perspective (of which I owned a membership).
More recently, gentrification has been seen through a new lens. Sure, everyone loves the positive outcomes but, what of the displacement? Is there a way that families who have lived in newly desirable neighborhoods for generations as renters, can share in the wealth creation that gentrification brings? How do we make gentrification a process in which not only everybody wins, but also one which brings much needed social synthesis?
Full disclosure- I don’t have an answer to this. However, I do think there is an answer, and that this is something we really need to talk about. Unfortunately, the only way we’re going to come up with this answer is through civil, creative and rational collaboration between conservative and progressive leaders, something that just doesn't seem possible in 2020 America.
Cities like Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon are keyed into this concern. Here in New Jersey, where we’ve already seen a great deal of gentrification, we are on the verge of more. Places like Newark, Asbury Park and Rahway have already begun the process [of further gentrification]. We need to pay deep attention to this. We’ve got to get our leaders collaborating on solutions that promote new types of economic growth. Growth that does not displace, but rather lifts minority Americans who have been falling further and further behind in the wealth gap.
In a time of polarized politics, passing legislation is delicate at best. The first thing we have to do is get ourselves back to a state of civility. Secondly, we’ve got to show our politicians that we have strong interest issues like [gentrification and the displacement of minority Americans].
To put the word racism into the history books, we’ve got to make words like “ghetto” and “slum” [merely] future trivia questions. Let’s all keep an eye on Austin and Portland, let’s keep thinking and let’s elect mature, gracious leaders who can unite. I’m optimistic that someday there will be multiple American communities that are 58% White, 18% Latino, 16% African-American and 6% Asian. I would love to be alive to see it.
-John Haddad