A new start for a new decade

With the start of a new decade, I’ve been thinking about what the future holds for our country. I hope that in my lifetime I see an expansion of affordable housing, along with increased compassion for those in need, and greater acceptance of cultural diversity. One recent study showed some interesting promise that we are starting to move in the right direction in terms of building more diversity within our neighborhoods.

Last month the US Census Bureau announced that housing segregation between African Americans and Caucasians is at the lowest level our nation has seen in over a century. The statistics from the survey state that the average Caucasian now lives in a neighborhood that is 79% percent white, compared to 81% in 2000. The average African American lives in a 46% black neighborhood, down from 49%. The results come from the American Community Survey, which gathering demographics from 1 in 10 Americans between 2005 and 2009.

The study also showed that the country’s largest population gains were in the suburbs. However, unlike past trends now minority populations are leading the way to the suburbs. Over a third of the new suburban dwellers were Hispanic (13.3 million), along with 2.5 million African Americans.

So, what do these housing trends mean for our future?

This evidence shows that our country is starting to become more inclusive and less concerned about racial issues while moving into new neighborhoods. I feel that diverse neighborhoods create rich opportunities for individuals to learn from one another. This diversity enhances our public schools and allows for each child to see the world from a new perspective.

At the same time, it is clear that segregation still exists. We still have a ways to go before diverse populations are welcomed in every neighborhood. The study also showed that a large percentage of individuals still live in neighborhoods where the majority of people look just like they do.

Because of these neighborhood changes, in the future we may see contentious political fights over congressional redistricting. For instance, we could see a disappearance of congressional districts that once were majority African American. In the next couple of years we may also see new districts emerge that are majority Latino.

One thing the statistics mean for sure is that we will continue to have greater diversity in our country in the future. We should be prepared to nourish this diverse population and support new generations in finding healthy, safe, and affordable places to live.

To see the Census report click here.

For more information click here or here.