The Rejection of Progress

Across the country, a coalition of property owners and political activists are trying to stop economic development in certain neighborhoods. They believe that investment in their community will do more harm than good.

In many cities, neighborhoods close to downtown are being transformed from being economically depressed to vibrant hubs of commerce. New homes and commercial buildings are replacing shotgun houses and boarded up businesses. But many oppose this transformation of their neighborhoods. They are opposed to gentrification. The movement against gentrification is founded on a combination of racism, anti-capitalism, and historic preservation.

In August, members of Black Lives Matter made headlines when they harassed property owners in a gentrified neighborhood in Seattle. They demanded that the white residents give up their homes. One thug shouted,

Do you know that before your white ass came here, this was all black people? Do you know people like you came in here and basically bought all the land from the black people for less than what it was worth, kicked them out so you could live here?

Gentrification often occurs in predominantly black neighborhoods located near a city’s downtown. As more individuals seek to live closer to work and entertainment, demand for housing has increased. Developers and builders buy dilapidated properties and transform them into office buildings, restaurants, and townhomes. The character of the neighborhood is transformed as more affluent—predominantly white—individuals move in.

Even though this transformation reduces crime and creates jobs, it is not welcomed by many of the existing residents and business owners. One business owner in Houston’s Third Ward, lamented the “white invasion.”

My only apprehension is how long will [business in Third Ward] be dominated by us? When will white businesses take over?

Many of the opponents of gentrification believe that historically black neighborhoods should remain predominantly black, even if that means high crime and few economic opportunities. They claim that the investors and developers who improve the neighborhood put profits before people. They occasionally and reluctantly acknowledge the fact that lower crime and more economic opportunities benefit people. But to the opponents of gentrification, the beneficiaries aren’t the right kind of people.

Progress can be unpleasant for those who do not embrace it, and gentrification certainly brings progress to a neighborhood. Sadly, those who resist gentrification are ultimately rejecting progress.