KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Analysis of census data shows a drop in segregation across the Kansas City metro area. More African Americans moved to the suburbs between 2000 and 2010.
The racial makeup of the metro area is changing as suburbs become integrated the urban core seeks redevelopment. FOX 4 talked to people who have stayed in the city as well as moved to the suburbs and both say Martin Luther King, Jr. would approve.
About a thousand lots east of Troost are vacant. Neighborhoods that once were mostly white and then became mostly black are becoming mostly empty. Rachel Riley moved out of the urban core 13 years ago. She now calls Independence home. Riley is part of the start of Black migration. She says it’s driven by the failure of Kansas City’s public schools.
“Most definitely because of the school system,” Riley said. “The schools were horrible. The lack of education. I wanted to better my children’s education.”
Some of the so called “Black flight” out of the city may be driven by the housing crisis and accompanying foreclosure boom. USA Today reports as black families lost their homes, some sought affording housing in older suburbs. Those left behind in the urban core neighborhoods find it harder to keep services and attract others to stay or come back.
“With opportunity growth, economic growth, educational growth, you have people that have grown up in your community 25-30 years that have now found opportunity to move out,” said Robert Dorsey. “They leave a big void. These are your people who have morals and principles of what your looking for to help steer your future to what it’s supposed to be for tomorrow.”
Both Dorsey and Riley agree that Martin Luther King would have approved of anyone taking advantage of opportunities to better their lives instead of blaming those who move for the demise of the urban core.
“I think that’s a bad vibe to just put on quote black families,” Riley said. “Because we didn’t have a problem when the white flight actually moved out, and so did the funding of the neighborhoods. Then it was called neighborhoods, now it’s just called the ‘hood.”
Vacancies in the city have made it easier to attract developers to whole neighborhoods instead of trying to rebuild a house here and there.