Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Birds of a Feather

USA Today reports that Census data shows economically successful blacks and Hispanics tend to live in neighborhoods where people are poorer than equally successful whites and Asians. The article claims this is evidence of segregation with the suggestion that they are unable to live in more upscale areas. I don't believe the "unable" part.

I suggest to you that this is instead evidence of choice, of the "birds of a feather flock together" phenomenon of which we are all aware. Economically successful minorities choose to live in neighborhoods where they resemble their neighbors racially or ethnically.

In the suburbs of Washington, D.C., I know there are affluent black neighborhoods. I believe similar neighborhoods exist in Atlanta. These would be exceptions to the Census data cited.