Urban Displacement, Stress, and Wellbeing in Historically Black Urban Neighborhoods: A Case Study

Abstract

Given that the majority of the US population lives in an urban area, cities have become production centers, not only for goods and services, but also for national values and norms. As the urban landscape continues to change, we must consider how these changes will impact the health and wellbeing of our most marginalized communities. In the current study, I explore the multidimensional ramifications of urban displacement (UD) for health and wellbeing in historically Black communities. Using archival video research and semi-structured interviews, I find that as community support networks are disrupted, residents experience deep feelings of loss and anger and struggle to feel like they belong in their legacy neighborhood. I extend the literature by pointing to changing perceptions of safety and security as one possible mechanism through which individuals lose their sense of belonging and experience stress. I also find that community perpetuity is a high priority for many long-term institutions and community leaders; further, an emphasis on community perpetuity and collective action may mitigate individual feelings of loss and promote connectedness. Finally I find that the historical Blackness of the neighborhood matters deeply to legacy residents due to histories of residential and social segregation and restriction.