Why is the African-American population of DC so high? (history) (Washington: fit in, cabinet)
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So is the Brookland/CUA area still mostly Catholic or has that changed?
Brookland is anchored by Catholic University of American, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archdiocese of Military Service, Mount St. Sepulchre Franciscan Monastery, Blessed John Paul II Shrine, Archbishop Carroll High School, St. Anselm's Abbey, Dominican House of Studies and dominating the landscape is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Brookland is known as "Little Rome" for a reason.
Thanks "DC's Finest" for that thorough history of DC. I too am a Washingtonian, my parents are too and went to Cardozo in the 50's. I am proud of being a Washingtonian of what used to be called "Chocolate City" in my day
(found a book which directly answers one of the OP's questions)
Quote:
Originally Posted by HellaFool
But DC, like Baltimore, are between the North and the South. But it is still a major Eastern seaboard urban center. I am wondering why no Irish or Italians or Poles or Jews moved there back in the 1900s... Did most of the blacks migrate to DC from Southern Virginia and North Carolina? Also when did this migration happen?
DC may be located in the Northeast Corridor, but it has a very distinctive history that isn't really of the Northeast Corridor. Unlike every other northeastern city (even other white-collar towns like Albany or Hartford), it didn't develop into an industrial or shipping center during the 19th century. Potomac River ports like Alexandria and Georgetown thrived in the early 19th century, but declined after the B&O railroad cemented Baltimore's ascendance.
African Americans had one key advantage over European immigrants: English literacy. Even low-skilled jobs in government offices required English, unlike the factory/port jobs filled by immigrants in other major cities. That lack of large-scale international immigration long gave DC a black/white ethnic mix akin to other Southern or border cities, like Atlanta, Memphis, Richmond, or St. Louis, rather than the ethnic mosaic found in industrial entrepôt cities.
Many African Americans moved to DC from eastern Virginia and North Carolina, and particularly in the mid/late 1800s when DC was much freer and wealthier than the rural South. Well into the late 1980s, neighborhoods like Mount Pleasant still had strong ties to homesteads in northeastern North Carolina: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...aling_Downtown
The only large English-speaking immigrant group from the early 19th century were the Irish, who established a few neighborhoods in DC like Swampoodle and Foggy Bottom-Vinegar Hill.
Yes i am black and i studied DC history. Keep in mind that government did not become big business until the 30's and during and after the war years. That's when many blacks migrated to DC for menial government work. These blacks were not special by any means but they were willing to do the jobs that whites didn't want for much less pay. The jobs they were doing were much better than the labor/pay in the deep south. So in a distorted sense, they had actually made it.
The immigrant explosion in NYC and other east coast cities happened much earlier than the black migration. These ethnic hoods were established many decades before. So DC was not considered a better option for the ethnic populace due to the fact that they would have to leave the comfort of their neighborhoods and start over. You have to really understand the mindset back then. Getting a job in an industry and living among their ethnic group was an achievement in those days. Many of them were singled minded but coming from their humble backgrounds, they were living a lot better than in Europe. Plus they were learning a skill set working in the factories.
DT DC used to look like DT Baltimore and Philly in the 50's thru early 80's. Lots of small to mid sized retail stores along F & G streets. 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, & 14th streets also had retail stores, porno places and book stores that were sort of run down but it was the place to shop before the burb malls popped up all over. Woodies, Hetchs & Garfinkles were the upscale anchors. Most of the these places were owned by DC jews. The areas I mentioned is the original DT DC! Because of height restrictions and increasing rents, DC only had one way to grow which was out. All of the small stores were priced out. Many of the jews packed up and moved to the burgeoning malls in the suburbs. Retail was replaced with commercial office space. DT DC spread all the way north to Mass avenue; west to Foggy Bottom; south to the Mall and east to Capitol Hill. DC now has the third largest DT in the US and the second highest commercial office rents behind Midtown Manhattan. Most of this construction was done by whites in the 70's' blacks in the 80's and early 90's and hispanics from the mid 90's until now.
Yes i am black and i studied DC history. Keep in mind that government did not become big business until the 30's and during and after the war years. That's when many blacks migrated to DC for menial government work. These blacks were not special by any means but they were willing to do the jobs that whites didn't want for much less pay. The jobs they were doing were much better than the labor/pay in the deep south. So in a distorted sense, they had actually made it.
The immigrant explosion in NYC and other east coast cities happened much earlier than the black migration. These ethnic hoods were established many decades before. So DC was not considered a better option for the ethnic populace due to the fact that they would have to leave the comfort of their neighborhoods and start over. You have to really understand the mindset back then. Getting a job in an industry and living among their ethnic group was an achievement in those days. Many of them were singled minded but coming from their humble backgrounds, they were living a lot better than in Europe. Plus they were learning a skill set working in the factories.
DT DC used to look like DT Baltimore and Philly in the 50's thru early 80's. Lots of small to mid sized retail stores along F & G streets. 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, & 14th streets also had retail stores, porno places and book stores that were sort of run down but it was the place to shop before the burb malls popped up all over. Woodies, Hetchs & Garfinkles were the upscale anchors. Most of the these places were owned by DC jews. The areas I mentioned is the original DT DC! Because of height restrictions and increasing rents, DC only had one way to grow which was out. All of the small stores were priced out. Many of the jews packed up and moved to the burgeoning malls in the suburbs. Retail was replaced with commercial office space. DT DC spread all the way north to Mass avenue; west to Foggy Bottom; south to the Mall and east to Capitol Hill. DC now has the third largest DT in the US and the second highest commercial office rents behind Midtown Manhattan. Most of this construction was done by whites in the 70's' blacks in the 80's and early 90's and hispanics from the mid 90's until now.
I knew that DT baltimore reminded me of DC! I was a kid back then but I do miss it before it changed so much. It was more authentic now seems worse.
The bigger question is why are you such a racist? I tried to see your point of view, and then you made the "Im so surprised there was never a there goes the neighborhood phenomenon". Stay away, D.C. doesn't need ppl like you..
Thank you, I read the post with great interest. They helped me understand the area of DC. Would anyone know where AA children went to school in the 1940's ,1950?. I am working on family history and looking for someone in the DC area. They are from GA, we know he lived in DC area as late as 1961 and he had a son that was in AF. Thank you.
I am originally from DC and went to school there in the 50's 60's 70's.
I live right outside of DC, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the reason that DC has such a large African-American population, making up close to 80% of the city.
LA has a high Mexican population because it is on the border of Mexico. Miami has a high Cuban population because it is right across the sea from Cuba. San Francisco is heavily Chinese because that was the Pacific coast port, whereas New York and Boston were made up of heavily European immigrants. But my question is what is it about Washington, DC that attracted such a high African-American population in history.
With New York and other Northeastern cities, the population was made up of Irish, Italian, and Eastern European immigrants until 1950, when the Puerto Ricans and blacks began moving in, and alot of the European-Americans moved into the Suburbs. Now there's alot of immigrants from all over Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia in Northeastern cities. So cities like Boston, Philly, New York, and even Baltimore have a mix of all those cultures.
But DC, like Baltimore, are between the North and the South. But it is still a major Eastern seaboard urban center. I am wondering why no Irish or Italians or Poles or Jews moved there back in the 1900s. From everything I've read, it doesn't seem like there was ever a "There goes the Neighborhood" phenomenon in DC like there was in the other cities. I'm pretty sure there was never a "Little Italy" in Washington DC.
So this brings up alot of questions. Did Washington, DC have a culture before 1950 like the urban Northeast, or was it like a Southern city like Atlanta? Did most of the blacks migrate to DC from Southern Virginia and North Carolina? Also when did this migration happen? Are there any blue-collar white neighborhoods in DC? It seems like all the white neighborhoods in DC are extremely wealthy, whereas the rest are middle, working, and poor neighborhoods, almost all African-American. If there are any urban working-class whites in DC, are they White Ethnics (immigrant descent from the Northeast) or WASPs (white people with families native to the Virginia area)
I have been wondering this for a long time, could anybody help me.
I really really wanted to edit your whole post..however.. have concluded that you have no idea what WASP means...par usual after listening to rhetoric of believing demogoddery..But this particular term reflects back to prior to your life..~~ here's a link to that..to just enlighten..but baffled with access of smart phone's who have so much access to informations still continue to say or expose LACK of History and understandings..SMH
Here's a link that describes attitude...
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant - TV Tropes
It became important in the mid-20th Century to point out the features of this group as a social reality. Generally WASPs were in positions of privilege and power, and could discriminate against those who were not white and not Protestant. Ethnic minorities (which may no longer be minorities in the New Millennium), non-Anglo Europeans, Jews and Catholics in particular suffered discrimination and exclusion. Critics pointed out how WASPs would see themselves as the 'true normal' of the cultural world. This, ironically, has led to the 'generic and bland' stereotype that so many WASPs are now desperate to shed.
In the end one should never fear where they live..then of course ignorance and well fed fear fuelled by media..One may very well be influenced..even with knowing FACTS muchness experience first hand..
There's an upside and downside to media accessibility...Too much value is put on opinions or impressing stuff..and no followups or attempt to look into tends to lead to belief in LIEs or be mis-informed and make judgements based on LIES...While that hunky dory for Politicians..It's NOT good when trying to live day to day amongst peers!!
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