Dream Deferred Press

If you look carefully and attentatively at your surroundings as an African American, what is it that you notice? Your city? Your home? Your people? The place you go to school, work, and have built countless memories around. These days, I've observed D.C. formally known as "Chocolate City" being flipped completely upside down. Around I have notices new buildings, stores, renovations, communities, and even new people from all across America bringing their businesses and families to the great city. On H street in Northeast Washington for instance, you may observe persons who don't necessarily blend into the community you thought the area occupied. One thing I've noticed is the cost of living that has changed dramatically in the area where most black people usually could have normally afforded to live. This however, is the opposite. The rent has risen forcing many to consider low income government housing which of course is limited. Some have resorted to moving out of state, or moving in with family to make it by. Also, many decade old black businesses have recieved eviction notices because of the major changes in the area and rent such as 50 year old Jak&Co. a hairdessing salon that fell victim to gentrification in 2011. Evicted by a landlord company who pursued changing market rate, Jak&co left behind a note that explained exactly why their business is no longer able to cater to their customers in the area.

"Gentrification"

What is gentrification? It is the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displace poorer residents.This is the very thing affecting cities such a Brooklyn, Harlem, Portland, Chicago, Philadelphia. and the list goes on. The primary reason behind this idea of creating better societies for middle class residents is to rid each city of the neighborhoods that have become poorly taken care of and that are high risk areas for crime.If this is considered a "positive" to some, then why are decade old residents being forced out of their homes for this transition to take place? Where are Black Americans supposed to go? Here is where I come to the idea of Reverse Migration that is occuring. Many African Americans are moving south because the cost of living is cheaper, the housing is affordable, and the job market is fairly flourishing. The "south", the very place we escaped from during the burdensome and formidable times of Jim Crow is the place that is looking more and more each day as the place we can only afford and turn to. Are African Americans being forced to go back? What could come of this? I suggest you closely take a look at what America has in store for us. All while our brothers are being murdered by cops and our cities that our ancestors built are being populated by the rich and our deserving people are being given the boot.