| Author | Message | ||
     Ucnthndlthtruth |
From : Jersey's new blend isn't block by block 03/11/01 BY ROBERT GEBELOFF STAR-LEDGER STAFF New Jersey's growing diversity has had little impact on the state's historical pattern of black-white housing segregation, a Star-Ledger analysis of recently released 2000 census figures shows. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/page1/ledger/1299cd5.html >> please post links rather than entire contents if story is online elsewhere. Thank you! -- ed. | ||
| Thetruth07040 |
I found this article quite interesting. It reopens my earlier discussion about demographics in Maplewood. It is even more reinforcement to my feelings that although Maplewood likes to pride itself on being culturally diverse, it's diversity is becoming increasingly more segregated with one side of town predominantly white and the other black. The article makes some very interesting points related to what is happening in suburban communities, especially those which border large urban areas like Newark. The most telling point for me is the comment which indicates that one of the biggest reasons for the shift in demographics is not because of white flight but because whites do not typically like to move into an integrated neighborhood, especially if the racial balance is tipped toward minorities. I believe that in this section of town (Hilton), most of the white flight has ended for now. Those people who were significantly racist and could not stomach living near blacks, have gone. Now, however, as houses are sold, it is becoming harder and harder to get white families to move in. This will become a problem. As the neighborhood moves from being "diverse" to being predominantly minority, many more whites will become uncomfortable and move. It may have nothing to do with being racist, but is more related to being comfortable. People like to live in communities with people like them. It is the nature of society and always has been. Italians like to live near Italians, Eastern Europeans like to live near other Eastern Europeans. The article even mentions a black executive of St. Barnabas who chose to live in East Orange because she liked being around other African-Americans. Is she racist? My point here, if I can get to it, is that if Maplewood is to remain a culturally and racially diverse town, we should not be concentrating on how to continue to be diverse. We already are (at least on THIS side of town). We should be focusing on how to get white families to desire to move to this section of town to maintain a balance. If we don't, exactly what the article describes will happen. I have no problem with having African-Americans or any other minority living here. But when I become the ONLY non-minority living on my block, I suspect I will feel uncomfortable and move, as will others..and so the re-segregation occurs. I commend the Coalition on their objectives. I only hope that they can have some impact. I mentioned in my earlier posting "Demographics" that in the past year or so I had not seen any white families move into my neighborhood. It still begs the question of how the realtors are handling this? Are they steering white families away from this side? This will certainly spark a lot of objection. I am only being honest! Forgive me. If I'm way out of line, please enlighten me. | ||
| Townie |
I live above the village and it has become more racially diverse since I moved here five years ago. And everyone is more comfortable with that! Most of us who moved here recently were looking for a suburban community where we felt comfortable even if we didn't look like the stereotype of a suburbanite. I think Maplewood is smart to advertise itself as a diverse community. The narrow-minded will house shop elsewhere while those looking for a real cosmpolitan community will pay a premium to live here and work to make the town a creative, interesting, relaxing place to be. | ||
| Wendy |
I commend you for your comments, The truth 07040. This is a very difficult thing for people of any color to talk about. I moved to this town in 1987 (at the last height of the market) coming from a mostly Jewish, white town in northeastern Queens. I specifically chose this place because I didn't want my future children to grow up as I did with no black neighbors. (Fortunately for me I had liberal, progressive parents who took me to summer retreats where I made friends from all backgrounds.) I too would be uncomfortable to be the minority in my neighborhood (Tuscan). I think there have been studies showing an interesting disconnect between whites' comfort levels (around 70/30) and blacks'(around 50/50). The CCR is well aware of this and I too applaud their efforts. On a similar vein, the Seth Boyden demonstration school is trying to attract more whites to the Boyden catchment area by only letting in (hopefully by lottery) a certain number of people from out of the catchment area. Some people find it objectionable that our school district is involved with integration patterns. I say, if not them, then who. On a different thread, someone posted the so-called reasons why there are more Asians moving to Millburn and Livingston, rather than Maplewood. The fact that Seth Boyden is trying to be in the forefront of new teaching methods (not curriculum) is hopefully working and encouraging more families to apply and/or move into that area. | ||
| Joancrystal |
Did you notice that all of the Maplewood people interviewed were very active with CCR? Should the article have striven for a more balanced picture? | ||
| Thetruth07040 |
I'm not sure I understand your point, Joan. |
