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The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration, 1966-1999
"Life in the city, for the millions who lived it, was once something less than the sum of their lifestyle they woke up, they ate, they shoveled coal, loved, hated, prayed, mated, reproduced, died. For most, the home was not a display object but a place to keep the few things they had managed to hold on to from the surpluses produced by their labor. Their material life was made of the things they didn't have to eat, wear, or burn right this minute. A concertina maybe? A family Bible? A hunting rifle?"
This life in "the old neighborhood," so lyrically captured by Ray Suarez, was once lived by a huge number of Americans. One in seven of us can directly connect our lineage through just one city, Brooklyn. In 1950, except for Los Angeles, the top ten American cities were all in the Northeast or Midwest, and all had populations over 800,000. Since then, especially since the mid-60s, a way of life has simply vanished.
Ray Suarez, veteran interviewer and host of NPR's "Talk of the Nation®," is a child of Brooklyn who has long been fascinated with the stories behind the largest of our once-great cities. He has talked to longtime residents, recent arrivals, and recent departures; community organizers, priests, cops, and politicians; and scholars who have studied neighborhoods, demographic trends, and social networks. The result is a rich tapestry of voices and history. The Old Neighborhood captures a crucial chapter in the experience of postwar America. It is a book not just for first- and second-generation Americans, but for anyone who remembers the prewar cities or wonders how we could have gotten to where we are. It is a book about "old neighborhoods" that were once cherished, and are now lost.
This life in "the old neighborhood," so lyrically captured by Ray Suarez, was once lived by a huge number of Americans. One in seven of us can directly connect our lineage through just one city, Brooklyn. In 1950, except for Los Angeles, the top ten American cities were all in the Northeast or Midwest, and all had populations over 800,000. Since then, especially since the mid-60s, a way of life has simply vanished.
Ray Suarez, veteran interviewer and host of NPR's "Talk of the Nation®," is a child of Brooklyn who has long been fascinated with the stories behind the largest of our once-great cities. He has talked to longtime residents, recent arrivals, and recent departures; community organizers, priests, cops, and politicians; and scholars who have studied neighborhoods, demographic trends, and social networks. The result is a rich tapestry of voices and history. The Old Neighborhood captures a crucial chapter in the experience of postwar America. It is a book not just for first- and second-generation Americans, but for anyone who remembers the prewar cities or wonders how we could have gotten to where we are. It is a book about "old neighborhoods" that were once cherished, and are now lost.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 9, 2021
The Old Neighborhood: What we Lost in the Great Migration: 1966-1999 by Ray Suarez. I enjoyed Suarez’s program “Talk of the Nation,” that was on NPR. Published in 1999, I purchased the book, but like many academics, I did not have time to read it. Reading it in 2021 is useful, Suarez explored different cities and how migration out of city neighborhoods reshaped the environment. Much of the change was fuel by racial fear, but at the same time there was much misinformation. The decline in schools and increase in crime were self-fulfilling prophecies. Some neighborhood quickly changed as people moved to suburbs, but lost a sense of community, walkable lifestyles and small neighborhood businesses. Some White people fought to retain their communities and welcomed their new Black and Brown neighbors, after all they shared much in terms of levels of education and occupations. But the greater math was the killer. As inner cities lost their tax base there were costs in maintaining schools, sanitation, and other essentials. In reality, people come into the city perhaps for work or entertainment, but really do not pay to support these environments. We have yet to address what suburbs gain in this equation.
Raised in Brooklyn, the path of Suarez’s life has taken him to many cities. Thus, he had an insider view on some cities. In other cities he tracks the migration to the suburbs with markers, like churches or with guides. The decline of manufacturing is a major theme and shared across many cities. He interviewed people and walked neighborhoods, discovering how some places like Miami are difficult to navigate without a car. Much has happened since 1999, including a recession. However, some cities have reinvented themselves. Washington DC has come back, but gentrification has pushed marginal communities into their own suburbs. Where they face declining property values and less revenue for schools and public services. We see seeds of racism, poverty, the lose of jobs, the decline in schools is still part of the fabric.
More changes are in our future, as the pandemic not only made racial and class inequalities visible to those who might not have wanted to see them, but there are going to be changes in where people actually work. The technology enables some professionals and white-collar workers to work from home. I’ve order products from my home and could hear the retail worker’s dogs barking in the background. Many people have admitted they are working at home. In my new building, still in the city, most of my younger neighbors have worked from home for months and only a few are returning to their work sites in the near future. Now that employers and employees know they can be productive from home, we might have less leasing of work spaces in either urban or suburban locations. Yet, in this era we can see how schools, children’s and teacher’s needs have to be addressed.
Glad I finally read this book. It helped me see what was happening during Democratic and Republican administrations where urban residents lost much and have had to pay more in taxes as they get less and less.
Raised in Brooklyn, the path of Suarez’s life has taken him to many cities. Thus, he had an insider view on some cities. In other cities he tracks the migration to the suburbs with markers, like churches or with guides. The decline of manufacturing is a major theme and shared across many cities. He interviewed people and walked neighborhoods, discovering how some places like Miami are difficult to navigate without a car. Much has happened since 1999, including a recession. However, some cities have reinvented themselves. Washington DC has come back, but gentrification has pushed marginal communities into their own suburbs. Where they face declining property values and less revenue for schools and public services. We see seeds of racism, poverty, the lose of jobs, the decline in schools is still part of the fabric.
More changes are in our future, as the pandemic not only made racial and class inequalities visible to those who might not have wanted to see them, but there are going to be changes in where people actually work. The technology enables some professionals and white-collar workers to work from home. I’ve order products from my home and could hear the retail worker’s dogs barking in the background. Many people have admitted they are working at home. In my new building, still in the city, most of my younger neighbors have worked from home for months and only a few are returning to their work sites in the near future. Now that employers and employees know they can be productive from home, we might have less leasing of work spaces in either urban or suburban locations. Yet, in this era we can see how schools, children’s and teacher’s needs have to be addressed.
Glad I finally read this book. It helped me see what was happening during Democratic and Republican administrations where urban residents lost much and have had to pay more in taxes as they get less and less.
February 11, 2022
I let this book stay on the shelf too long; a whole generation of urban change has passed since this was published in 1999. I liked Ray Suarez on NPR and the book isn't without its uses even today, chiefly the descriptions of white flight and the multiple failures of city officials chiefly in the urban north to hold neighborhoods together as demographic patterns changed. Well, city officials, the police, local businesses, schools...the list goes on but they were all fighting one costant in urban (and suburban, and rural) America: the racism that causes people to abandon neighborhoods their families have occupied for generations when change occurs.
I have a quibble with the way this book is written, and it's why I zoomed through it and really didn't read it in detail: Suarez's text is pages and pages of long quotes from people in the cities he interviewed. Using experts and residents as sources is critical, of course, but there's a huge amount of quoting and not a lot of writing. It's not a long book, but once you pass the introduction -- an excellent, useful summary, by the way -- and get to the sections on individual cities, it's all given over to what looks like a transcription of an interview.
Still, a lot of what Suarez refers to here sadly hasn't changed, and while cities may be reclaiming some urban neighborhoods and even trying -- in their snappy new mixed-use developments -- to carve out a small place for the poor, the racism that never seems to away it still evident.
I have a quibble with the way this book is written, and it's why I zoomed through it and really didn't read it in detail: Suarez's text is pages and pages of long quotes from people in the cities he interviewed. Using experts and residents as sources is critical, of course, but there's a huge amount of quoting and not a lot of writing. It's not a long book, but once you pass the introduction -- an excellent, useful summary, by the way -- and get to the sections on individual cities, it's all given over to what looks like a transcription of an interview.
Still, a lot of what Suarez refers to here sadly hasn't changed, and while cities may be reclaiming some urban neighborhoods and even trying -- in their snappy new mixed-use developments -- to carve out a small place for the poor, the racism that never seems to away it still evident.
May 8, 2025
Good read, felt like I was back in Geography class.
November 17, 2010
I have a real fondness for books about our modern age. The only trouble is, as I have mentioned before, that there is so frequently a temptation to write about a period of history before a sufficient amount of time has elapsed to really see it objectively. I found this to be a bit true with Ray Suarez' The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration: 1966-1999. For the 1966 part, yeah, I think we have good perspective but not so much for the 1999 part - especially considering the book was written in 2000. I sometimes think I missed my calling as a social scientist, but really, it's better that I just read about it in my spare time rather than try to make a living at it. And I'm much better with pharmaceuticals than I would be with the statistics that are required for this kind of research.
The Old Neighborhood examines the late 20th century phenomenon of "white flight" - the exodus of middle class white people from the cities to the suburbs. Their departure was frequently prompted by the arrival of minorities in the neighborhood. In what was really a vicious cycle that fed on itself, the first minority families would move in which would prompt the original white residents to move before their property values went down. More minorities moved in, more whites left as did local businesses and a neighborhood that was once was solidly middle class went into free fall. The subsequent loss of tax revenue affected local schools and other public services. Those left behind lived in an area that was a mere shadow of its former self, largely due to the fear of the unknown and the different.
What I liked about Suarez' take on white flight was rather than take a grim, textbook-like approach, he made it very personal. He examined many different cities in the book and in each, he interviewed many people that lived in the city or in the neighborhoods that had deteriorated. I also appreciated the short history lesson that he gave about each of the cities he stopped in - I learned a great deal from this as the only city in the book I claim any kind of real familiarity with is Chicago and even there, I learned something. The book did get bogged down in the interviews a little bit. They SO could have been edited, thus making the book a little leaner and more effective.
I've find it sad what has happened to our cities over the last 50 years. Across the nation, miles and miles of suburbs surround donut holes. Thankfully, this has been improving some as reinvestment in city centers has been occurring. Even in our capital city of Des Moines (not featured in the book, obviously), there has been a vigorous attempt to revitalize the downtown area and draw residents to the area vs. the daytime population of office workers. This has met with considerable success, so much so that downtown Des Moines is no longer a ghost town. I wonder how different things are in the other cities profiled in 2010 vs. 2000 when this book was written.
An interesting book, but again, could have been much shorter and would have gotten the same point across. That's kind of the trouble with books like these - they really overdo it after a while. I found myself skimming toward the end of the book which is never a good sign.
The Old Neighborhood examines the late 20th century phenomenon of "white flight" - the exodus of middle class white people from the cities to the suburbs. Their departure was frequently prompted by the arrival of minorities in the neighborhood. In what was really a vicious cycle that fed on itself, the first minority families would move in which would prompt the original white residents to move before their property values went down. More minorities moved in, more whites left as did local businesses and a neighborhood that was once was solidly middle class went into free fall. The subsequent loss of tax revenue affected local schools and other public services. Those left behind lived in an area that was a mere shadow of its former self, largely due to the fear of the unknown and the different.
What I liked about Suarez' take on white flight was rather than take a grim, textbook-like approach, he made it very personal. He examined many different cities in the book and in each, he interviewed many people that lived in the city or in the neighborhoods that had deteriorated. I also appreciated the short history lesson that he gave about each of the cities he stopped in - I learned a great deal from this as the only city in the book I claim any kind of real familiarity with is Chicago and even there, I learned something. The book did get bogged down in the interviews a little bit. They SO could have been edited, thus making the book a little leaner and more effective.
I've find it sad what has happened to our cities over the last 50 years. Across the nation, miles and miles of suburbs surround donut holes. Thankfully, this has been improving some as reinvestment in city centers has been occurring. Even in our capital city of Des Moines (not featured in the book, obviously), there has been a vigorous attempt to revitalize the downtown area and draw residents to the area vs. the daytime population of office workers. This has met with considerable success, so much so that downtown Des Moines is no longer a ghost town. I wonder how different things are in the other cities profiled in 2010 vs. 2000 when this book was written.
An interesting book, but again, could have been much shorter and would have gotten the same point across. That's kind of the trouble with books like these - they really overdo it after a while. I found myself skimming toward the end of the book which is never a good sign.
July 18, 2010
A little dated (DC population is back up some since this was written, for instance) but overall an informaive survey of the impact of depopulation of big cities in the northeast and midwest from 60's to 90's. Some interesting interviews with residents or former residents to concretize the discussion. Not much of a macro perspective except for the "white flight" angle. For example, he doesn't really discuss the environmental implications of more people moving to the suburbs, often farther from their jobs and out of reach of public transport.
Persona and attitudes of the author much too prominent for my taste as a reader. He's from Brooklyn (is there anybody out there from Brooklyn who doesn't think everything about the way they grew up in the old neighborhood was the best? Just wondering) and measures everything against that experience. Dripping with contempt for suburbanites, wealthy white people, private school [or even public school, if the PTA is too active:] parents, and so on. Some of his shots land, but it all gets old before the book runs out.
Persona and attitudes of the author much too prominent for my taste as a reader. He's from Brooklyn (is there anybody out there from Brooklyn who doesn't think everything about the way they grew up in the old neighborhood was the best? Just wondering) and measures everything against that experience. Dripping with contempt for suburbanites, wealthy white people, private school [or even public school, if the PTA is too active:] parents, and so on. Some of his shots land, but it all gets old before the book runs out.
March 6, 2013
Wow! What a disappointment. I'm a fan of Ray Suarez (PBS Newshour) and as a student of urban life and history I looked forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, I waited about a decade too long because this 1999 book is badly dated now. I expected a book praising the virtues of neighborhoods--old or new--as cohesive communities. This book, however, is just gloomy about the demise of the old ethnic neighborhoods (he mostly writes about big, old Midwestern and Northeastern cities), block busting (black and brown) and gentrification. He's very good about the movement to the suburbs and how it's weakened our big cities, but I think even in 1999, he was out-of-date about the revival of inner cities. I wish he'd found some positive stories to tell and I think he could have, certainly in more recent years, about urban revivals and inner city neighborhoods (yes, like the one I work with in San Jose)
December 3, 2010
I was disappointed that the author didn't cover Detroit or Minneapolis-St. Paul. (Detroit was the bigger oversight.) Regardless, I enjoyed the book. Maybe the author felt that the Midwest was adequately covered because of the attention he gave Chicago.
As a resident of Minneapolis in a neighborhood that is trending downward, I was curious to see what types of issues are at play with losing population bases to the suburbs. As expected, the complicated issue of race is a heavy focus for this book. I'd be interested in other books about the subject too. I know that The Death and Life of Great American Cities and Edge City are both on my list of to-read books.
It is more anecdotal than statistical, which appeals to me.
As a resident of Minneapolis in a neighborhood that is trending downward, I was curious to see what types of issues are at play with losing population bases to the suburbs. As expected, the complicated issue of race is a heavy focus for this book. I'd be interested in other books about the subject too. I know that The Death and Life of Great American Cities and Edge City are both on my list of to-read books.
It is more anecdotal than statistical, which appeals to me.
September 24, 2007
I read The Old Neighborhood as part of my research for a term paper on urban sprawl during my junior year in college. It turned out to be so much more fascinating than I had anticipated. In addition to being a great work of non-fiction, The Old Neighborhood has a lot of heart. Anyone with an interest in socio-economic issues would find this an enjoyable read.
July 7, 2008
This book was a fascinating read. Suarez provides the history of the flight from American cities and the subsequent suburban sprawl mostly through interviews with the people involved. It's an in-depth look at racism, organizing, politics, crime, and neighborhoods. The book covers multiple cities' individual stories as well as the national picture. I highly recommend it.
Read
February 27, 2008It's more than I expected from Ray and he packs a little punch. It's great to read about Chicago in context of other cities experiencing white flight and gentrification--to understand similarities and differences based on geography and history. Why doesn't goodreads have spelling and grammar check?
September 13, 2007
A fascinating subject, but this book almost drowns in unedited interviews & academese.
Want to read
February 4, 2008Just bought this one over the weekend too. Looks great. The guy that hosts "Talk of the Nation" (Ray Suarez) from NPR wrote it. Which pretty much means I'll love it.
Read
December 24, 2008Got halfway through ... it was a good book, but wasn't adding many new insights for me. I recommend it though for people who haven't done as much thinking about urban flight and renewal as I have.
Read
October 6, 2009"The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration, 1966-1999 by Ray Suarez (1999)"
April 17, 2017
Much has changed since this book was written; a lot of these old cities have managed to claw their way back. But the premise is a good one. Why we leave old neighborhoods, and what happens to them, makes for interesting reading. That so much of the problem is based on racial relationships is not surprising.
A couple of problems I had with the book are, one, not all “old neighborhoods” are in the East. My mother grew up in one of those neighborhoods in Phoenix. She mourns its passing as much as Suarez does his in Brooklyn. Perhaps it wasn’t a big city at the time, but a comparison between the cities of the East and those of the West would have been appreciated. Even when he focuses on the Hispanic effect on the race equation, even after stating that the majority of Hispanics live in the West, the author’s focus is still on cities in the East.
Two, after awhile things got pretty repetitious. The problems of each city are examined, but they’re all pretty much the same problem–White flight after a black family moves into the neighborhood, and, before you know it, the demographics of that neighborhood makes a radical shift. Property values fall, business leave. That same story is told about Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington D.C. Okay, I get it. Again, a bigger canvas might have made the book a more enjoyable read.
A couple of problems I had with the book are, one, not all “old neighborhoods” are in the East. My mother grew up in one of those neighborhoods in Phoenix. She mourns its passing as much as Suarez does his in Brooklyn. Perhaps it wasn’t a big city at the time, but a comparison between the cities of the East and those of the West would have been appreciated. Even when he focuses on the Hispanic effect on the race equation, even after stating that the majority of Hispanics live in the West, the author’s focus is still on cities in the East.
Two, after awhile things got pretty repetitious. The problems of each city are examined, but they’re all pretty much the same problem–White flight after a black family moves into the neighborhood, and, before you know it, the demographics of that neighborhood makes a radical shift. Property values fall, business leave. That same story is told about Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington D.C. Okay, I get it. Again, a bigger canvas might have made the book a more enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews