Chicago's Black population is dwindling at an alarming rate, with the city's non-Hispanic Black residents numbering just over 700,000, according to the latest census estimates. This number marks a significant decline from the peak of nearly 1.2 million in 1980, which translates to a staggering loss of half a million people over less than 50 years – or roughly 10,000 individuals every year.
The problems plaguing Chicago's Black communities appear insurmountable, with deindustrialization leaving a void in job opportunities and steady wages. The manufacturing industry that once provided employment for Black residents has been replaced, and despite court rulings and federal laws aimed at addressing housing discrimination, inequities persist.
Unemployment rates among Black Americans in Chicago are a staggering 14.5%, the highest among major US cities, further exacerbating the issue. Meanwhile, predatory lending, red light camera tickets, and disproportionate property taxes continue to drain the pockets of Black residents, resulting in median wealth of $0 in the city.
However, there is hope for revitalizing growth and development in these communities. One potential solution lies in building or creating more housing units in existing Black neighborhoods. The current state of affairs sees a decline in occupied housing units and an increase in vacant properties, highlighting a need for action.
The Chicago city-owned land inventory holds nearly 13,000 properties, with two-thirds located in Black communities that have collectively lost over 90,000 residents in the past decade. Furthermore, the city receives at least 5,000 reports of vacant or abandoned buildings annually, many concentrated in areas such as Roseland, West Englewood, and Englewood.
The solution lies not only in utilizing this available land but also in acknowledging the need for collective action to address the systemic issues plaguing Black Chicago. With nearly two-thirds of city-owned properties located in these communities, there is a significant opportunity to drive growth and development.
As Alden Loury notes, while shortcomings are evident, out-of-town planners see opportunities where others perceive challenges. It's time for Chicago to take a page from their book and harness the power of vacant land to invigorate Black communities. The will to act must be present if we hope to slow or reverse the decline of these once-thriving neighborhoods.
By prioritizing housing development and leveraging city-owned properties, it may be possible to stem the tide of population loss in Black Chicago. It's a daunting task, but with determination and collective effort, the future of these communities can be rewritten – and their residents given a chance to thrive once more.
The problems plaguing Chicago's Black communities appear insurmountable, with deindustrialization leaving a void in job opportunities and steady wages. The manufacturing industry that once provided employment for Black residents has been replaced, and despite court rulings and federal laws aimed at addressing housing discrimination, inequities persist.
Unemployment rates among Black Americans in Chicago are a staggering 14.5%, the highest among major US cities, further exacerbating the issue. Meanwhile, predatory lending, red light camera tickets, and disproportionate property taxes continue to drain the pockets of Black residents, resulting in median wealth of $0 in the city.
However, there is hope for revitalizing growth and development in these communities. One potential solution lies in building or creating more housing units in existing Black neighborhoods. The current state of affairs sees a decline in occupied housing units and an increase in vacant properties, highlighting a need for action.
The Chicago city-owned land inventory holds nearly 13,000 properties, with two-thirds located in Black communities that have collectively lost over 90,000 residents in the past decade. Furthermore, the city receives at least 5,000 reports of vacant or abandoned buildings annually, many concentrated in areas such as Roseland, West Englewood, and Englewood.
The solution lies not only in utilizing this available land but also in acknowledging the need for collective action to address the systemic issues plaguing Black Chicago. With nearly two-thirds of city-owned properties located in these communities, there is a significant opportunity to drive growth and development.
As Alden Loury notes, while shortcomings are evident, out-of-town planners see opportunities where others perceive challenges. It's time for Chicago to take a page from their book and harness the power of vacant land to invigorate Black communities. The will to act must be present if we hope to slow or reverse the decline of these once-thriving neighborhoods.
By prioritizing housing development and leveraging city-owned properties, it may be possible to stem the tide of population loss in Black Chicago. It's a daunting task, but with determination and collective effort, the future of these communities can be rewritten – and their residents given a chance to thrive once more.
its crazy how much the black community in chicago has lost over the years... like half a million people gone in less than 50 yrs thats devastating 
they need more affordable housing options ASAP 
gotta do something about those predatory lending practices and unequal property taxes too that's just not right 
but i think its heartening to see some ppl taking notice and wanna make a change like the city owning nearly 13k properties in black neighborhoods that's a huge opportunity for growth 
. On one hand, I think it's insane that Chicago's Black population is dwindling at such an alarming rate - half a million people over 50 years? That's just mind-blowing 
. And yeah, the problems they're facing are super real, from deindustrialization to predatory lending... it's like, totally unfair 
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And if they can do it, why can't we? 
! The city's got 13,000 properties just chillin' in Black communities – that's like a whole lotta potential for growth and development! 
. 700k people is still a lot, but half a mil over 50 yrs is crazy. It just makes me wonder what happened to all those jobs and industries that used to thrive in the city. I mean, I get that deindustrialization is a big deal, but can't we find some way to bring back the good old manufacturing days? 
The number is dwindling at an alarming rate! It's like a never-ending slide. 
That would create a ripple effect, bringing in fresh ideas, money, and talent!
We can't just point fingers and talk about change; we need to make it happen.
... anyway, it's crazy that Chicago's Black population is dwindling at such an alarming rate! 700k people isn't nothing, but 1.2 million in 1980 was a lot 
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. The stats are just mind-boggling - 14.5% unemployment rate, median wealth of $0... what can you even do with that? 
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it's crazy! all those ppl leaving behind homes and jobs and stuff...deindustrialization hit hard 
and now there's only a few hundred thousand left 
gotta do something about that housing shortage ASAP 
that'd be a great start 
...and we need more affordable housing options ASAP 
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. We need more people with that kind of mindset if we want to turn things around. It's not gonna be easy, but if we work together and support each other, I think we can make a real difference 
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! It's not just about leveraging existing resources, it's also about collective effort and determination 
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maybe we cud see some progress if the city builds more housing units in black neighborhoods thats a good start... and using city-owned land inventory cud be a great way to stimulate growth & development... its all about collective action now