Racial Segregation

Persuasive Essay # 102525

African-American Studies > 1950-Present
Political Science

Racial Segregation

An analysis of the theories behind the trends of racial segregation in Washington DC.

2,728 words () | 14 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper analyses the census data of Washington in order to reveal significant points and trends and more especially incongruities or oddities. It discusses theories regarding racial segregation and discusses the relationship between capitalism and the class aspect of racial segregation. The paper argues that current trends in Washington and similar trends in cities such as Atlanta appear to have their source in the escalating process of globalization.

Outline:
Introduction
Census Data Analysis
Overview of Segregation
Immigrants and Residential Patterns
The Impact of the Post-Industrial Economy
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The effectiveness of racial enclosure policies was demonstrated in Washington in 1947 when more than 97 percent of blacks were found in the District (Manning, 1998). Segregation escalated until the 1970s with whites moving away from the District as blacks continued to move in. This racial shift whereby by 1970 nine times the number of blacks were situated in the District as in suburban Washington is explained by urban apartheid (Manning, 1998). From this very sudden change in racial composition there developed a second sudden change in demographics between the District and the suburbs since the population of the suburbs eventually was comprised of 85 percent of former residents of the District (Manning, 1998). The same pattern was observed with the development of satellite cities far away from the center of Atlanta. The white population then left the inner city, and African Americans became the majority within it (Miller, 2002)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Brookings Institute (1994). Urban realities. The Brookings Review, 12 (3), 26-32.
Friedman, S. et al. (2005). Race, immigrants, and residence. Geographical Review, 95 (2), 210-231.
Clark, W. (2007). Evaluating mobility outcomes for African Americans. Urban Affairs Review, 42, (3), 295-314.
Clark, W. (2006). Race, class, and space: Outcomes of suburban access for Asians and Hispanics. Urban Geography, 27 (6), 489-506.
Cooke, T. (1999). Geographic context and concentrated urban poverty within the United States. Urban Geography, 20 (6), 552-566.