Research
“Racially and Ethnically Diverse Urban Neighborhoods”
In 1998, a landmark study was published in Cityscape examining 14 diverse neighborhoods in 9 U.S. cities that are considered models for successful integration. Below is an excerpt from Chapter 1:
The existence of racially and ethnically diverse urban neighborhoods is one of our Nation’s best-kept secrets. Instead of telling about these places, the media regularly report on the continued legacy of racial and ethnic tensions in the United States. As the Nation is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse and the 21st century approaches, social scientists see possibilities of a patchwork of segregated urban neighborhoods or options for more diversity within our neighborhoods…This study seeks to challenge the skeptics and policy pessimists. It documents several successful, stable, racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods in our cities. We recognize that such neighborhoods are, by far, the exception rather than the rule. At the same time, we assert that within these neighborhoods there may be alternative models of living and interacting—models valuable to a Nation fast becoming more diverse. A recent analysis of U.S. demographic trends notes that “by the middle of the 21st century, today’s minorities will comprise nearly one-half of all Americans” (O’Hare, 1992). This begs the question: Will we become a Nation of coexisting, cooperating groups sharing our resources, or will we become an even more segregated society, with each racial and ethnic group battling for its piece of the pie?
“Racial Integration in Urban America: A Block Level Analysis of African
American and White Housing Patterns”
This study reevaluates the segregation index, which is the measure traditionally used to analyze urban demographic data. From the introduction:
An alternative definition of black-white integration is presented in this paper, not as a competitive model for ranking cities and metro areas, but to expose the biases and limitations of the segregation indexes. It represents a radical departure from the white domination approach to desegregation that was introduced in the 1950s and that has persisted in the segregation index rankings. Unlike the historic segregation index, the integration measure reflects a democratic perspective that both majority white and majority black neighborhoods may be considered integrated, that is, if an 80 percent white and 20 percent black population is acceptable for a residential block, than an 80 percent black and 20 percent white population should be acceptable as well. Using this new definition of black-white integration, this study analyzed the racial composition of 8.2 million blocks in the U.S.
“Understanding Diverse Neighborhoods in an Era of Demographic Change”
This report attempts to document the extent and type of diversity – economic, racial, and ethnic – in the nation’s largest 100 metropolitan areas. Below is a passage from the introduction:
Immigration is bringing profound changes to urban and suburban neighborhoods across the country. But research on the racial and ethnic composition of neighborhoods has lagged, still focusing primarily on traditional, two-way measures of residential segregation and on citywide or metropolitan-wide disparities. At the same time, many housing and community development practitioners are working to promote mixed-income communities, so that lower-income households can enjoy greater access to quality public and private services and to mainstream social and economic opportunities. But surprisingly little is known about the extent of mixed-income neighborhoods in urban and suburban communities today, or about their racial and ethnic diversity…Therefore, this paper uses decennial census data to develop a new set of neighborhood typologies – strategies for grouping census tracts into categories that reflect important differences in the income groups represented, as well as the extent of racial and ethnic diversity.
“Stable Integrated Communities”
This study was conducted by the Cincinnatus Association in response to the 2000 Census data that suggested that Cincinnati was one of the most racially segregated cities in the country. The researchers set out to examine how the racial and socioeconomic composition of the Cincinnati area had changed since the 1970 census and, of the areas that had been integrated, which had remained stable and which had not. The following data is from the executive summary:
Residents of the three largest integrated communities said they placed high value on the following: (1) Learning about others who are different, (2) Being among and helping develop tolerant people, (3) Living in a purposefully diverse neighborhood, (4) Having multiple kinds of housing to choose from, (5) Having an abundance of small businesses and support services, (6) Having active faith communities, (7) Having safe communities, and (8) Getting more people engaged in community events and decision-making.
These results directly challenge and contradict the notion that integrated
neighborhoods and communities are undesirable places in which to make
a home. Rather, they are thriving communities presenting enrichment
opportunities for all, resulting in much to celebrate and feel uniquely
good about.