Gentrification in the District

The nation's capital, a place often referred to as "Chocolate City," is slowly losing its African-American population, with barely 50 percent of African-Americans residing in the city according to a 2009 census statistics.

The number of blacks living in D.C. has dwindled by more than 11 percent in the last decade, with African-Americans slowly losing their majority status, according to Washington Post reports.

This change in demographics comes amidst years of gentrification in the city, with several luxury condominiums and apartments being built, especially in the downtown area, driving out low-income residents.

"There is a desire for professionals, particularly young professionals, to live in professional places," said Casey Dawkins, a professor in the urban studies and planning department, referring to the government's major employment of residents in the D.C. metropolitan area.

"A lot of what's driving gentrification in D.C. is market forces because people are willing to pay more for housing in D.C. for metro accessible locations."

Alfred Williams, a native Washingtonian, views the gentrification as a necessity in order to help with the crime rates and economic poverty of the city.

"I go along with what is needed," Williams explained.

"If it stays all black with the poverty, we are not going to get anything because if you think about crime in terms of a black person getting killed in a black neighborhood you hear nothing. But when a black person gets killed in a white neighborhood, they beef up security," Williams added, referring to the high crime rates in the city.

Janae Harrison, a senior communication major, says that she believes that gentrification is not a bad idea, despite people labeling it as such.

"I feel like people have stigmatized it to be so bad. Like ok gentrification, they want black people to move out and white people to come in," explained Harrison, who was born in D.C. and raised in the Anacostia area.

"I feel like it's just a part of change, things change, places change. I just feel like it's bound to happen and it's something you can't control."

Williams who has lived on the first block of U Street for 21 years said there has definitely been a major shift in diversity.

 When he first moved on his street, there were about two white families on the block, but now, there is a 50/50 makeup between blacks and whites.

Whether the city will remain true to its African-American culture and politics, despite the racial population change, is the controversial question.

"One area that is an interesting case study is the U Street/Shaw area," said Dawkins.

"It's an example of how the city has maintained its historical ties to African-American music and art amidst the economic change. "

Williams, who has been a resident in the city for 66 years, said that he is not concerned about the city losing its diversity and African-American edge because there are a lot of residents like him who have lived in the city for so long and have no intentions of moving.

"If you take someone like me, who was born and raised here, I plan on dying here."