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Major Cities Losing Black Population in DROVES
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May 1, 2025
They call it the Black Flight. Big cities around the US are losing their Black population in mass. Can you guess why? Why Chicago is so Segregated: https://youtu.be/liQhU6xx_V0 Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss any future videos! Check out the books we love and recommend in our Black Excellence Book Club: https://www.blackexcellence.com/store/ Some links are affiliate links, which means we earn a very tiny commission if you make a purchase. __________________________________________________________ Sharing interesting and noteworthy stories in Black culture. All content provided by Black Excellence Media, LLC is for entertainment purposes only. None of the information or advice provided is to replace professional advice. Website: https://blackexcellence.com
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Where you live, is the black population
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increasing, decreasing, or staying about
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the same? Over the past few decades,
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several US cities have experienced
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notable declines in their black
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population. This trend reflects a
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complex interplay of historical events,
0:15
economic shifts, and social dynamics. If
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you live in the six major cities that
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we'll be talking about today, you might
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have noticed a major decline in the
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black populations. But why? In this
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episode, we'll explore their histories,
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the evolution of their black
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communities, and the current challenges
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related to housing, employment, and
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overall living conditions. Hi, my name
0:35
is Jared, and I talk about interesting
0:37
stories and trends in black culture
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because black culture honestly is just
0:41
that interesting to me. If you share my
0:43
interest, hit that subscribe button and
0:45
let's deep dive into some interesting
0:47
black culture and history in every
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episode. Let's start our exploration of
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big cities that are shedding their black
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population in large numbers here in the
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West Coast in the city they call San
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Francisco. San Francisco's history is
1:01
marked by the gold rush. The city's
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picturesque landscape and cultural
1:04
landmarks have made it a global
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destination. The black community in San
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Francisco grew during World War II,
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attracted by shipyard jobs and other
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wartime industries. Neighborhoods like
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the Fillmore District became vibrant
1:17
centers of black culture and business.
1:19
However, urban renewal projects in the
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mid 20th century led to the displacement
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of many black residents. The black
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population in San Francisco has
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continued to decline, influenced by
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factors such as gentrification, high
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cost of living, and limited economic
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opportunities. Many black residents have
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relocated to more affordable areas
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within the Bay Area or other states.
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Black people made up 13.4% of San
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Francisco in 1970. Currently, it is
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estimated that the number is down to
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5.3%. As of early 2025, the median home
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price in San Francisco is approximately
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$1.4 million. The median household
1:58
income in San Francisco is around
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$119,000. And I'm sorry, I know I'm no
2:03
financial whiz, but how are you supposed
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to afford a $1.4 million house with an
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income of
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$119,000? The exorbitant cost of living
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driven primarily by housing expenses
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makes it difficult for many residents,
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especially those from historically
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marginalized communities to remain in
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the city. Younger generations such as
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Gen Z and still millennials find home
2:24
ownership particularly unattainable,
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often requiring annual incomes exceeding
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400,000 to afford medianric homes. And
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I'm sure AI is not going to make this
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any better because a lot of those tech
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jobs are leaving at the same time. This
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economic pressure contributes to the
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ongoing exodus of black residents
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seeking more sustainable living
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conditions elsewhere. And number two, we
2:47
have Miami, Florida. Miami has evolved
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from a small resort town into a major
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international city known for its
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cultural diversity, tourism, and role as
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a gateway to Latin America. Its economy
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is heavily influenced by tourism,
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finance, and international trade. The
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black community in Miami has a rich
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history with roots in the early 20th
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century when African-Americans and
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Caribbean immigrants settled in areas
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like Overtown and Liberty City. These
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neighborhoods became cultural hubs,
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fostering a vibrant community despite
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facing segregation and economic
3:22
challenges. In recent years, Miami has
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seen a decline in its black population.
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Factors contributing to this trend
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include rising housing costs,
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gentrification of historically black
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neighborhoods, and economic disparities.
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Many black residents have had to move to
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suburban areas or other regions in
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search of more affordable living
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conditions and better economic
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opportunities. In 1990, almost 25% of
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Miami was black. According to the 2020
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census, Miami is currently 12% black.
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The median home price in Miami is
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approximately
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$450,000. This represents a significant
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increase over the past decade driven by
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high demand and limited housing supply.
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The median household income in Miami is
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only around
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$55,000. The combination of housing
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costs, relatively low median incomes,
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and economic disparities makes living in
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Miami challenging for many black
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residents. Gentrification has led to the
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displacement of longlasting communities.
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These factors contribute to the
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migration of black residents to areas
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with more affordable living conditions
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and better job prospects. At number
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three, we have New Orleans. Founded in
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1718, New Orleans is renowned for its
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rich cultural heritage, blending French,
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Spanish, African, and Creole influences.
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The city's unique traditions, music, and
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cuisine have made it a cultural
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landmark. New Orleans has a deeprooted
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black community with traditions that
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have significantly shaped the city's
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identity. The black population has been
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instrumental in the development of jazz
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music and other cultural expressions. In
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the 2000 census, black people made up
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66.7% of New Orleans. In 2020, the
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percentage was down to
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53.6%. And there is one huge factor that
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contributed to that. 2005 Hurricane
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Katrina. Hurricane Katrina led to the
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displacement of 800,000 people, the
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majority of whom, of course, were black.
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Recovery efforts have been uneven, and
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economic challenges persist,
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contributing to the continued decline in
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the black population. Many were forced
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to leave not just the city, but the
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state of Louisiana completely to start
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over elsewhere after the hurricane.
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Those who stayed in lowincome
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neighborhoods have seen an increase in
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violent crime, while other parts of New
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Orleans have seen a dramatic increase in
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the cost of living. At number four, we
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have Los Angeles, California. LA emerged
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as a major metropolitan area with the
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rise of the entertainment industry and
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its role as a Pacific Rim trade center.
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Its diverse population has contributed
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to a rich culture that goes beyond
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Hollywood. But that culture has seen
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challenges in recent decades due to what
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else? high cost of living. Mid 20th
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century industrial jobs attracted black
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migrants to neighborhoods like South Los
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Angeles. These communities became
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centers of black culture and activism.
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Cities like Compton and Englewood are
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world famous for black culture, but some
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of these neighborhoods are looking a
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little different lately thanks to
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gentrification. The black population in
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Los Angeles has been declining, heavily
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influenced by rising housing costs and
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economic challenges. Many black
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residents have relocated to more
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affordable areas within California or
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other states completely. Back in 1980,
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LA was 16.7% black. Now that percentage
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is down to 8.2%. The median home value
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in Los Angeles County is approximately
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$800,000, while the median household
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income is only around $70,000. I keep
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telling my friends over and over this is
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going to correct one of these days, but
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they don't believe me. Someone please do
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the math and tell me how this makes
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sense and see how it's possible that
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someone can afford a $800,000 house on a
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$70,000 income while also dealing with
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some of the highest gas prices and taxes
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in America. And if you're like, why
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don't people just rent? Well, the
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average price for a two-bedroom
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apartment in the city of LA is around
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$2,900. High living costs, traffic
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congestion, and economic inequality pose
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significant challenges for residents,
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particularly for the black community.
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The city's housing shortage, exagerbated
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by natural disasters like wildfires, has
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led to an increased competition, which
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in turn means higher prices for
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everyone. At number five, we have
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Chicago, Illinois. Chicago's strategic
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location made it a hub for
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transportation and industry. The city
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attracted a diverse workforce and became
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known for its architectural innovations
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and cultural institutions. The great
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migration brought a significant number
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of black individuals to Chicago,
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particularly the southside. The
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communities thrive culturally and
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economically, but also face systematic
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challenges, including segregation and
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economic disparities. If you haven't
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watched our recent video on how Chicago
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became the most segregated big city in
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America, I'll leave a link below in the
8:15
description. Chicago has experienced a
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notable decline in its black population.
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Contributing factors include economic
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challenges, crime rates, and urban
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renewal projects that have displaced
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long-standing communities. Many black
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residents have moved to suburban areas
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or other cities in search of better
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opportunities and living conditions. The
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black population in Chicago was at 39%
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at its highest in 1990. It currently
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stands at 28%. And last but not least,
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there is the concrete jungle, New York
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City. New York City has long been a
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beacon for immigrants and migrants
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seeking opportunity. Its diverse
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neighborhoods have been shaped by waves
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of newcomers, each leaving an undeniable
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mark on the city's cultural fabric.
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During the Great Migration, many black
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families moved from the south to
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northern cities like New York, seeking
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better economic opportunities and
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escaping Jim Crow laws. Neighborhoods
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such as Harlem became epicenters of
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black culture and activism, giving rise
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to movements like the Harlem
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Renaissance. However, these communities
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also face challenges, including
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redlinining and housing discrimination,
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which limited their growth and
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prosperity. In recent years, New York
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City has seen a decline in its black
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population. Between 2000 and 2020, the
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black population in New York declined,
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many moving back to the south in what is
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called the second great migration. This
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time, black people are moving back to
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the south. If you're looking to rent a
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one-bedroom apartment in New York City,
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the average price now is
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$3,900. A twobedroom place is over
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$5,000. Somebody has some money
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somewhere. And the median household
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income is right around $80,000. The high
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cost of living, affordable housing
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shortages, and economic inequality make
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residing in New York City particularly
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challenging for many black residents.
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The city's housing shortage is driven by
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a lack of housing supply with
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restrictive zoning regulations
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contributing to the under supply of
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housing. So, do any of these cities
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surprise you? I know these days
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everybody is feeling the economic
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squeeze regardless of where you live.
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But these cities have taken it to a
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whole another level. This trend has been
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growing for decades, but CO has really
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escalated things making housing,
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groceries, travel, just about everything
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way more expensive. So, what are your
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thoughts on this? Did you move out of
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any of these cities we talked about? If
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so, let me know where you moved to and
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how it compares. So, that's it for this
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video. I'll catch you on the next