Preview

Gentrification Argumentative Essay

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1187 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Gentrification Argumentative Essay
Many people call gentrification a myth because they argue that displacement is a fiction and will always happen and that it is a good thing for poor minorities. Many studies have examined whether this phenomenon affects or benefit communities. In order to understand this issue we need to define gentrification. The classic gentrification is usually defined as the process of neighborhoods changing that results in the displacement of lower income communities by the affluent populations. The issue of gentrification has historically included a strong racial component - lower income African American residents are replaced by higher income white residents. Beveridge, Halle, Telles, & Dufault (2013) identify an important issue of how it seems that …show more content…
Ms. Rivera questions, “how can they argue this building will bring people together? When the rich already want to be “especially” transported to the building because they don’t want to walk among a community that, according to them, is dirty and full of poor people.” She described this is the beginning of gentrification and the door to racism because “before no one wanted to live here, not even come here, and now the white people come to drink at the …show more content…
We must clarify the term gentrification is prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class. It was never meant to benefit everyone in the community. In reality, it was always meant to make change the structure of class in a certain area by raising property value through mass renovation and development. Here it is where the racial injustice in New York City comes in: why are the areas largely populated by minorities the main targets for gentrification?Why gentrifiers do not plan to go, buy, and destroy a housing building in the mid city to build a Luxurious hotel? The plan of gentrification does not only support a system of white privilege, it also makes it more difficult for those living below the poverty line to start living above it, unless these residents are

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The author discusses the comparison between two low-income neighborhoods and what one neighborhood was able to accomplish. In Highpoint, Seattle Washington residents decided to take…

    • 338 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Eng 100 Paper 1 Review

    • 334 Words
    • 1 Page

    Gentrification is the shift in urban communities towards wealthier residents or businesses and increasing property value of an urban city. The best of the three articles is Gentrification’s insidious violence: The truth about American cities. Because, it really gives analysis on the gentrification of American cities and refer to one of the articles which is “Is Gentrification all Bad? by Justin Davidson which examine the first wave of gentrifiers deeper in the way I have heard it.…

    • 334 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    When Jamie and Vaughn told me they wanted a Folsom engagement session that represented the undeveloped part of the city before houses and businesses took over, I was completely enamored with the idea! Having called Folsom home since 1997, I knew exactly what urban sprawl would do to those rolling hill on the other side of Highway 50 and was excited to spend some time in the "country" side of our city. And when Vaughn told me he was bringing his 1956 chevy classic car, I knew it was going to be a little extra special.…

    • 145 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    I intend to discuss the inequity for individuals and communities affected by gentrification and then discuss democracy and equality in just takings' cases. Other issues that will be explored are the government's use of eminent domain in cases where the government needs to use an individual's land for public use. Particularly, where the government desires to build public buildings or support an industry in that area. The inequities would be in the government's abuse of power in those…

    • 1897 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bay Area Argument Essay

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I agree with the content and observation within the article, because it is a growing problem in California, especially in the Bay Area. However, the writing style and delivery in which it is portrayed is relying more on emotional appeal, rather on the logical aspect such as numbers and charts. Levin details the displacement of individuals in the Reserve Apartments, due to the fact that it is being dismantled to make way for a development of market-rate housing, because it can lure people of higher income into the world’s prosperous-technology businesses. However, it would pose a problem to many of the tenants, because it would mean they would have to move to other locations where rents is more affordable.…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin with, the residents of these predominately minority communities that are being touched the most by gentrification often have assorted views about the impact of a new congregation moving into their neighborhood. Notably, dwindling crime rates, an upsurge in employment opportunities, and a bolstered economy in these neighborhoods represent the progressive ramifications that accompany gentrification. Notwithstanding, numerous residents suggest these benefits do not counterbalance the unfavorable factors such as: rising rents, long-time residents being forced to move from their homes, and the erosion of their culture. As an illustration, a prime example of a current issue associated with gentrification that Temple students are conscious…

    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For Asians and other minority groups, economic factors appear to be a briefly notable determent of their residential placement. Their dispersement in a wealthy or impoverished area is partially contingent to their income or occupation. Hispanics, Whites, and Asians are all residentially coordinated regardless to their economic standing or occupation. Therefore, it is not the most effective variable to describe the residential placement of these individual groups. "Income made virtually no difference in the extent of residential segregation [in American cities in 1970 and 1980] since prosperous Blacks and Whites were as residentially segregated from each other as impoverished Blacks were segregated from poor Whites.... Increasing income among Blacks may have led to higher standards of living and better quality housing but . . . it hardly led to residential integration.” (Boswell, Cruz-Baez,…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gentrification often leads to a decline in social capital and civil engagement in targeted communities. Can gentrification instead improve the social capital and the civic engagement in a given community? Gentrification lowers the social capital and civil engagement in disinvested and established communities. The decline is a consequence that results from breaking up those established communities; members of the established communities leave as their properties are purchased and the new occupants may later not interact in the new community. The majority of gentrification occurs in disinvested urban areas, is it possible that the same methods should target other areas that suffer disinvestment? Areas of possible interest may include older suburbs,…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    With the increased number of other minorities besides African Americans, the city became more and more diverse. In 1980 Los Angeles’ Hispanic population was about 28% and increased to a staggering 40% as they became the majority in the city, while the Black population decreased from 17% to 13%. Naturally the struggling black community sees the increase in the Hispanic population as a “threat” to their jobs and as well as their neighborhoods (Bergesen, Herman 42). Yet with the Hispanic populations increasing the Black communities of Los Angeles were not as bad as they are believed to be. In 1964 the Watts area was actually a community consisting of mostly one and two-story houses, a third of which owned by the occupants. “At the time, a Black person could sit where he wanted on a bus or at the movies. They were allowed to vote and could use public facilities without discrimination. The opportunity to succeed was probably unequaled in any other major American City.”(Fogelson 3) Even with all these rights on one summer night…

    • 3056 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Progression is a necessary constant throughout all of human history. As we look back we can see the leaps and bounds we have made in technology, industry, and government; but while development is necessary it isn’t always the best route. Gentrification has been seen as one of those forms of necessary advancement, but when looking at it under a microscope you begin to see the truth behind the “progress”. Gentrification causes the rapid increase in property value, as well as the eviction of life long tenants, and the alterations of whole neighborhoods. On paper, it seems like it’s a great idea to take a neighborhood and give it a face lift, but there is a human element to the equation we are leaving out. Sternbergh (2009) notes that “Displacement…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I selected this topic, because out of all the cause of deaths, one that seem to stand out the most are senseless killings in the Urban Black Neighborhood area; where most crimes are related to youth killing one another in gang crime, and now this which involved police shooting unarmed young black males, and similar killing seems to be spreading statewide. Yet, not forgetting how Martin Luther King Jr, was killed. Therefore, disgusting the past events dealing with discrimination of a race and it’s effortless fight alongside activist and protesters are in search of answers. Yet, demand for peace and equal quality for black citizens.…

    • 881 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Myth Of Gentrification

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What exactly is gentrification? Jon Butin concept is of gentrification is when “artists, bohemians, and gay couples come first. They move into run-down—but charming and historic—homes and loft spaces close to the urban core. Houses are restored. Funky coffee shops appear. Public safety improves. Then rents and home prices start to go up. As rents and home prices continue to rise, the earlier residents—often lower-income people of color—are forced out.” Butin seems to believe that gentrificating a neighborhood of low income displaces poor people of color with well off, blue collar white people. Sometimes, people who move into low income neighborhoods really do want to help. They start community programs and become community leaders. They get involved with the community and start projects to make the neighborhood “prettier”. Blue collar whites attempt to improve neighborhoods can have some consequences. As wealthier people move into the new up and coming neighborhood, landlords will raise rent. The increase of rent will make it harder for low income people to stay. As this occurs, major companies move into the neighborhood to accommodate the more traffic it is getting. Small…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gentrification In America

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gentrification has always be a controversial subject in which it particularly deals with pushing out the blacks, and moving in the whites. Although many people believe this is how gentrification works, it is actually much more complex. In modern America, gentrification is more of an inconspicuous act in which the lower class is pushed out, rather than just a specific race. Although the majority of the lower class happen to be African Americans and latinos, it is focused upon the removal of the lower class, and rise of the middle and upper class. Gentrification is a constant cycle throughout cities especially in New York, towns such as Williamsburg, have been severely gentrified by middle class and upper class New Yorkers. While gentrification…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gentrification Essay

    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages

    I believe that gentrification has more of a negative effect on the community in Columbus, Ohio because you can see that the current African American residents in the community are constantly getting housing violations for simple things like having a carved sign above their homes. One of the current resident believes that the violations are happening only because the new residents moving in on the same block. I also think that the only reason Columbus, Ohio is being gentrified is because of the location, architecture, and culture of the area. The newer residents are moving in because they think that it is a desirable location to live in.…

    • 846 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What drives gentrification? (2014). This article is based on a speech at a recent ISO forum in Brooklyn, New York addressing the roots of gentrification and it responded on how residents of big cities everywhere face the effects of gentrification, as long-time residents are pushed out of neighborhoods due to rising rents and housing costs and other changes. The author provided an objective analysis from the perspective of the working class of New York and of all other cities undergoing gentrification by examining what appears to be two contradictory outcomes of gentrification: the "improvement" of a neighborhood on the one hand and the displacement of its long-time residents on the other. Flores also analyzed the misconception between geographers David Levy whose theory explains gentrification as flowing from the consumer preferences of a new, youthful, white-collar middle class that wishes to change from a suburban to an urban lifestyle and Late Neil Smith counterposes Levy 's theory with a class perspective by contrasting the owners of capital intent on gentrifying and developing a neighborhood having a lot more "consumer’s choice" about which neighborhoods they want to devour, and the kind of housing and other facilities they produce for the rest of us to…

    • 1820 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays