I am blown away by the succinct explanation from Kimberly Jones regarding the history of enslaved Africans and their American descendants.
I would like to see gentrification discussed in this same context. I would like to see gentrification eliminated and transformed into Restoration — where Black neighborhoods are allowed access to the resources they need to maintain a quality of life.
My understanding of gentrification is what results when local businesses and homeowners in a Black neighborhood are unable to get loans to maintain/improve their home or to grow their business. This leads to decline, grime and crime. (Poverty wages has a role here, too.) Once the neighborhood declines, speculators and developers, looking to expand within a city and with easy access to financing, are able to buy them out cheap. It is yet another way for us Whites to erase the wealth Black Americans accumulated through hard work.
The 2008 housing crisis (intentionally?) played a role as well. It drove me nuts at the time that Obama’s financial advisors represented Wall Street. They saved most of the big banks and investment houses while they did little to help Black Americans who were conned out of their homes using predatory lending.
I hope to be able to join a movement for Restoration of Wealth to Black Americans.
I don’t know what that looks like — I don’t have the skills to help shape that — but when I see it happening, I will do all I can to support it.