White flight

Definition

White flight refers to the phenomenon where white residents move out of neighborhoods as African American or other minority populations move in, often in response to school desegregation and the civil rights movement. This migration typically occurs to avoid racial integration in schools and communities, resulting in further segregation and inequality in education and housing.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. White flight became particularly prominent after the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which mandated desegregation in schools.
2. This phenomenon contributed to the creation of predominantly white suburbs, as families sought to escape integrated urban schools.
3. White flight often resulted in a decline in public school funding in urban areas, as funding is typically based on local property taxes.
4. The trend of white flight not only impacted schools but also led to increased economic disparities between urban and suburban areas.
5. Efforts to combat white flight have included policies aimed at promoting diversity within schools and communities, but challenges remain.

Review Questions

• How did white flight influence the dynamics of school desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling?
  • White flight significantly influenced school desegregation by leading many white families to leave urban areas in response to integrated schools. As a result, public schools in cities often saw a decrease in white students, further entrenching segregation. This migration created predominantly minority schools with fewer resources, impacting educational equality and exacerbating racial divides.
• In what ways did white flight contribute to economic disparities between urban and suburban communities?
  • White flight contributed to economic disparities by shifting wealth from urban areas to suburban neighborhoods. As affluent white families left cities, they took their financial resources with them, leading to decreased property values and tax revenues in urban areas. This decline resulted in reduced funding for schools and public services, deepening the divide between resource-rich suburbs and economically struggling urban centers.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of white flight on contemporary education and housing policies in the United States.
  • The long-term effects of white flight continue to shape contemporary education and housing policies by perpetuating systemic inequalities. Many urban schools remain underfunded and racially isolated due to historical patterns of residential segregation. Efforts to promote integration through policy measures face significant challenges, as community resistance and socioeconomic barriers persist. As a result, addressing these enduring issues requires comprehensive strategies that focus on equity in education and housing opportunities for all populations.

Related terms

Redlining: A discriminatory practice where banks and insurers refuse or limit loans and insurance to certain neighborhoods based on racial composition, contributing to segregation and economic disparity.

De facto segregation: Segregation that occurs in practice, even if not mandated by law, often resulting from residential patterns and economic inequalities.

Gentrification: The process where urban neighborhoods undergo transformation through the influx of more affluent residents, often displacing lower-income residents and changing the area's character.