The Black Metropolis in the Twenty-First Century: Race, Power, and Politics of Place

by Robert D. Bullard (Editor), Angela Glover Blackwell (Contributor), Edward J. Blakely (Contributor)

This book brings together key essays that seek to make visible and expand our understanding of the role of government (policies, programs, and investments) in shaping cities and metropolitan regions; the costs and consequences of uneven urban and regional growth patterns; suburban sprawl and public health, transportation, and economic development; and the enduring connection of place, space, and race in the era of increased globalization. Whether intended or unintended, many government policies (housing, transportation, land use, environmental, economic development, education, etc.) have aided and in some cases subsidized suburban sprawl, job flight, and spatial mismatch; concentrated urban poverty; and heightened racial and economic disparities. Written mostly by African American scholars, the book captures the dynamism of these meetings, describing the challenges facing cities, suburbs, and metropolitan regions as they seek to address continuing and emerging patterns of racial polarization in the twenty-first century. The book clearly shows that the United States entered the new millennium as one of the wealthiest and the most powerful nations on earth. Yet amid this prosperity, our nation is faced with some of the same challenges that confronted it at the beginning of the twentieth century, including rising inequality in income, wealth, and opportunity; economic restructuring; immigration pressures and ethnic tension; and a widening gap between 'haves' and 'have-nots.' Clearly, race matters. Place also matters. Where we live impacts the quality of our lives and chances for the 'good life.'

Genres: Race, Cities

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[chats · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me forever because it was so academic, in a way that rendered some chapters almost incomprehensible. It gets recommended a lot by urbanists, and I can see why: it does a good job of emphasizing how development without connection to jobs or resources puts communities of color, especially Black communities, at a disadvantage. But I think I need someone smarter than me to read it and explain what some policy takeaways might be for 2023 and beyond.