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These historic Black neighborhoods were once a symbol of Black Excellence. But where are they now?
Why Reparations: https://youtu.be/vJFRXsCzO3Y?si=AOdxNnUFkVQgdUVI
Why Chicago is So Segregated: https://youtu.be/liQhU6xx_V0?si=TdzJtT14LsyVakcM
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0:00
For decades, historically black
0:02
neighborhoods in America served as
0:03
cultural, economic, and social
0:05
epicenters for black communities. From
0:08
the bustling streets of Harlem and New
0:10
York to the rich jazz heritage of New
0:12
Orleans TMA, these neighborhoods thrive
0:14
despite systematic challenges. But
0:16
today, many of these once vibrant
0:18
enclaves have been all but erased, or at
0:21
least their lights have been dimmed down
0:22
dramatically. But why, might you ask?
0:25
Well, let's talk about it. Hi, my name
0:26
is Jared and I talk about the who's,
0:29
why, and hows of black culture in
0:31
America because black culture is just so
0:33
interesting to me. So, if you find it as
0:35
interesting as I do, make sure you
0:37
subscribe and join me on fascinating
0:39
discussions every week. Today, we'll
0:41
look at four historical black
0:44
neighborhoods around the country. Let's
0:46
start out on the East Coast in Harlem.
0:48
Who hasn't heard about all the great
0:50
things that came out of Harlem? Harlem
0:52
emerged as the heart of the black
0:54
culture in the early 20th century,
0:56
particularly during the Harlem
0:58
Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s. This
1:01
era saw an explosion of black
1:03
literature, music, and intellectual
1:05
thought with figures like Langston
1:07
Hughes and Zoranil Hursten shaping
1:10
America's culture. Harlem's thriving
1:13
nightife attracted both black and white
1:15
patrons with jazz clubs like the Cotton
1:17
Club and the Apollo Theater hosting
1:19
legendary performers. However, after the
1:22
mid 20th century, Harlem faced economic
1:25
decline, crime, and devastation as
1:27
manufacturing jobs that sustained the
1:29
community all but washed up. By the
1:32
1970s and 80s, the neighborhood was
1:35
struggling with poverty, high crime
1:37
rates, and drug epidemics. I mean, who
1:39
doesn't remember movies like New Jack
1:41
City? Sit your $5 down before I make
1:44
change. Despite these challenges, Harlem
1:47
remained a stronghold of black culture
1:49
and activism. Today, Harlem is a mix of
1:51
historic black culture and rapid
1:53
gentrification. Between 2000 and 2020,
1:56
the black population of Central Harlem
1:58
decreased from 77% to about 54% while
2:02
the white population increased
2:04
significantly. Rising property values
2:06
and an influx of wealthier residents
2:08
have pushed out many longtime black
2:10
families. Efforts to preserve Harlem's
2:12
black identity, such as the protection
2:14
of the Apollo Theater and Harlem's
2:17
blackowned businesses, continue to be a
2:19
priority for activists and community
2:21
leaders. Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
2:24
Greenwood, also known as the famous
2:27
Black Wall Street, was one of the most
2:29
prosperous black communities in America
2:32
in the early 1900s. By 1921, the
2:35
neighborhood boasted over 600 blackowned
2:38
businesses, including banks, hotels,
2:41
movie theaters, and newspapers. It was
2:43
and actually still is a symbol of black
2:46
self-sufficiency and economic power in a
2:49
deeply segregated America. However, this
2:52
prosperity was violently destroyed in
2:54
the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. White
2:57
mobs enraged by false accusations
2:59
against a black man looted and burned
3:02
Greenwood to the ground, killing an
3:04
estimated 300 black residents and
3:07
leaving thousands homeless. The
3:09
destruction wiped out decades of black
3:11
wealth in a matter of hours. In recent
3:13
years, Tulsa has made attempts to
3:15
acknowledge and rectify this dark
3:18
history. The Greenwood Rising History
3:20
Center was established to educate
3:22
visitors about the massacre and
3:24
reparations discussions continue. If you
3:26
want to see another video that we did on
3:28
reparations, I'll leave a link below.
3:30
Everyone else in this country has gotten
3:31
reparations in one way or another.
3:33
There's one group of people that were
3:35
left out. However, economic disparities
3:37
obviously remain. While the area has
3:40
seen redevelopment, much of the land
3:42
once owned by black families has been
3:44
taken over by new developments, and few
3:46
black businesses have been able to
3:48
reclaim their former prominence. The
3:50
median income for black residents in
3:52
Tulsa remains significantly lower than
3:55
that of white residents, highlighting
3:57
ongoing racial economic disparities.
3:59
Brownsville, Chicago. Brownsville was a
4:02
major hub for black migration from the
4:04
south during the early to mid 20th
4:07
century. As part of the great migration,
4:09
thousands of black Americans moved to
4:11
Chicago, seeking better economic
4:14
opportunities, and escape from Jim Crow
4:16
laws. Brownsville became a center of
4:18
black life, home to artists, musicians,
4:21
and activists. It was known for its rich
4:23
art scene, thriving businesses and
4:26
institutions such as the Chicago
4:28
Defender newspaper, which played a key
4:30
role in the civil rights movement.
4:32
Within decades, however, systematic
4:34
racism in housing policies and economic
4:37
discrimination led to struggles for the
4:39
neighborhood. The construction of public
4:41
housing projects such as the Robert
4:44
Taylor homes initially provided
4:46
affordable housing, but eventually
4:47
contributed to economic isolation and
4:50
crime due to underfunding and neglect.
4:53
If you haven't watched our video on why
4:54
Chicago is the most segregated big city
4:56
in America, do that after this video.
4:59
It's basically a deep dive into how
5:01
Chicago became the way it is now. Again,
5:03
by the 1970s and 80s, economic decline,
5:07
segregation, and disinvestment led to
5:09
hardships for the neighborhood. It seems
5:11
like America was really unhappy after
5:14
the civil rights movement. A lot of bad
5:16
things happened after the late60s. So,
5:19
into the 70s and 80s, it seems like they
5:21
went through black communities and tore
5:23
them apart even more. Let us know if you
5:25
think we should make maybe a short
5:26
documentary on that. Today, Brownsville
5:29
is experiencing a mix of revitalization
5:32
and gentrification. While efforts have
5:34
been made to promote black business
5:36
development and historic preservation,
5:38
rising real estate prices threatened to
5:40
displace longtime residents. The median
5:43
home price in Brownsville has increased
5:45
significantly, making it difficult for
5:47
some black families to remain in the
5:49
area. TMA, New Orleans. TMA is one of
5:52
the oldest black neighborhoods in
5:54
America and the birthplace of jazz. It
5:57
was a center of black resistance,
5:59
culture, and business. Home to free
6:01
black residents even during slavery with
6:04
institutions like the St. Augustine
6:06
Church and Congo Square serving as
6:08
spaces for black worship and cultural
6:10
expression. However, the construction of
6:13
the I 10 highway through the
6:15
neighborhood in the mid 20th century
6:17
devastated its economy, cutting the
6:20
community in half and leading to the
6:22
destruction of blackowned businesses.
6:24
Further damage came after Hurricane
6:26
Katrina in 2005 when many black
6:28
residents were displaced by
6:30
redevelopment efforts. Many homes were
6:32
left abandoned and posttorm policies
6:35
made it difficult for black residents to
6:37
return. Today, TMA remains culturally
6:39
significant with landmarks like Congo
6:42
Square and the Backstreet Cultural
6:44
Museum preserving its legacy. But
6:46
gentrification continues to alter its
6:48
demographic makeup. Before Katrina, TMA
6:50
was around 75% black. Today, the number
6:54
has dropped to around 53% as wealthier,
6:57
often white newcomers move into the
6:59
area. Property values have skyrocketed,
7:02
making it difficult for some longtime
7:04
residents to stay. While cultural
7:06
preservation efforts continue, the fight
7:08
against displacement remains a
7:10
challenge. The story of America's
7:12
historically black neighborhoods is one
7:14
of resilience and struggle. While many
7:16
have faced eraser, the legacy of these
7:19
communities lives on through their
7:20
impact on American culture, music,
7:23
business, and civil rights. Moving
7:25
forward, the challenge remains. How can
7:27
these historic spaces be preserved while
7:29
ensuring that the people who built them
7:31
are not forced out or forgotten? As
7:34
cities continue to evolve, it is
7:36
essential to protect black cultural
7:38
landmarks, support black home ownership,
7:41
and invest in policies that prevent
7:43
displacement. So, that's all I have for
7:45
you today. I hope you learned something
7:47
like I did. Don't forget to subscribe,
7:49
like, and share.
#Discrimination & Identity Relations
#Human Rights & Liberties
#Housing & Development