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Those Who Left: Austin's Declining African American Population

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Those Who Left: Austin's Declining African American Population THOSE WHO LEFT Austin’s Declining African American Population AUTHORS: Eric Tang, Ph.D., associate professor, faculty fellow at Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis and Division of Diversity and Community Engagement; Bisola Falola, M.A., Ph.D. candidate, Department of Geography and the Environment CONTRIBUTORS: Chelsi West Ohueri, M.A., Ph.D. candidate, Department of Anthropology; Omi Osun Joni L. Jones, Ph.D., professor, African and African Diaspora Studies Despite being one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Austin’s African American population has been in steady decline for nearly two decades. The discrepancy between Austin’s huge population growth and its decline in African American residents is greater than that of any other fast-growing major city in the U.S. Why are they leaving and where are they going? Executive Summary Although Austin is one of the fastest growing What caused this population decline? How are major cities in the United States, its African those who have resettled outside of Austin fairing? American population has been in steady decline This report explores these questions and, through for nearly two decades. From 2000 to 2010 African the voices of displaced African American families, Americans were the only racial group in Austin to focuses on two primary forces that have led to the experience an absolute numerical decline during decline in Austin’s African American population: a decade of otherwise remarkable growth in the unaffordable housing and dissatisfaction with the city’s general population. Moreover, no other fast- city’s public schools. growing major city experienced a decline in African Americans during that same decade. Background Historically, the concentration of African American residents in East Austin was the result of In 2014 the Institute for Urban Policy Research state-sanctioned segregation. In 1928, city officials and Analysis published the issue brief “Outlier: created a “Negro District” in which the majority The Case of Austin’s Declining African American of African Americans would eventually resettle Population,” which drew upon decennial U.S. because it was home to the only public school and census data to reveal Austin’s rapid decline in other public services accessible to them under the African American residents. Austin grew by 20.4 racial rule of Jim Crow. Decades later these very percent between 2000 and 2010 and was the neighborhoods would become prime targets of third-fastest growing city in a list of 10 total cities gentrification. Concentrated segregation followed including Charlotte, Fort Worth, and Portland, by concentrated gentrification resulted in the among others. However, despite the city’s huge massive displacement of African Americans from growth in general population, its African American their historic communities. population declined by 5.4 percent, from 64,259 African American residents to 60,760. Methodology In Surveying Those Who Left Austin was the statistical outlier, being the only major-growing city to see a such a significant loss Surveys were conducted with 100 African in African American residents. Americans, a majority of whom moved out of The initial brief only hypothesized factors the city of Austin between 1999 (the year the that contributed to African Americans leaving. 2000 census was taken) and the present. These These included the historical racial segregation respondents relocated outside of Austin’s city due to the city’s “Negro District” followed limits to nearby cities, specifically Round Rock, by the contemporary gentrification of those Pflugerville, Del Valle, Bastrop, Elgin, and Manor, neighborhoods, Austin public schools underserving yet all of them maintain close ties to family, African American students, the unequal treatment friends, businesses, and places of worship located of African Americans by Austin police, and the within the city of Austin. lack of employment opportunities for African The majority of the surveys were conducted Americans in Austin’s booming economy. By at one of three historic African American churches invoking these historical, economic, and social located within Austin’s erstwhile “Negro District.” pressures, the authors speculated that “African These included Greater Mount Zion Baptist Americans did not choose to leave Austin so much Church, St. James Missionary Baptist Church, and as they were compelled to leave.” David Chapel. Additionally, an approximate 10 Building off of the initial brief, this report percent of the surveys were conducted at St. Mary presents data that explores two major topics Missionary Baptist Church in Pflugerville. With the related to the population decline. assistance of leaders from each of these churches, One, did African Americans choose to the survey team was able to identify respondents leave the city in pursuit of better opportunities among congregants who now live outside the city elsewhere? Or were they compelled or forced to limits yet return to East Austin to attend services. leave, and why? That is, were they “pushed out” All respondents identified as African by socioeconomic pressures, particularly the Americans consistent with the U.S. Census gentrification of historically African American Bureau’s “Black Population alone” definition and neighborhoods and the simultaneous soaring cost as heads of household. Men made up 36 percent of housing throughout the entire city? of respondents with the other 64 percent being And two, to what extent is the resettlement women. The age of respondents ranged from of African Americans to areas outside of Austin 19 years to 79 years, with 52 years old being the an extension of inequalities they have faced average age. Income of respondents ranged from when living within the city? The report also $12,000 to $200,000, with an average income of touches upon the social, political, and economical $58,540. Fifteen percent of the respondents moved significance of this decline. out of Austin before 1999, 53 percent moved out between 1999 and 2009, and 23 percent left Austin between 2009 and present day. Before leaving the city limits, 63 percent of the respondents lived in the greater East Austin area. “Cost of living was getting too high in Austin and I get more for my money in Round Rock.” -Female, 52 Top reasons for leaving Austin, all respondents Affordability 56% Better schools 24% Racism/Unwelcoming 16% 11% Higher quality of life 9% Quieter 8% Overcrowded 7% Job opportunities 0 20 40 60 Key Findings and Discussion What respondents had to say about affordability: PRICED OUT OF AUSTIN • “I couldn’t afford to live here; pushed out by The 2014 IUPRA issue brief speculated that African lack of resources” -Female, 52 Americans left Austin because housing costs • “They didn’t want to redo East Austin when we within the city became increasingly unaffordable. were living in it. We saw what was happening in It specifically highlighted the pressure that Austin. They were trying to get all the property gentrification placed on longstanding residents of in Austin they could get. City was taking East Austin, home to the largest concentration of land, jacking up prices. The gentrification the city’s African American population. started settling in. Residents are sick to their The survey data presented in this report stomach seeing what they see. They could have strongly support this theory. When asked why they revitalized.” -Male, 63 decided to leave Austin, 56 percent of respondents chose “unaffordable housing” as their leading reason. Among the respondents, 63 percent lived EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES in greater East Austin before leaving the city. This According to the City of Austin’s demographer, the suggests that soaring housing prices incentivized 5.4 percent decline in African American residents many African American homeowners of East between 2000 and 2010 was comprised mostly of Austin to sell their properties to higher-income those under the age of 18. One infers from this residents who could afford to renovate homes in that African American heads of household based disrepair and to pay hefty property taxes. When their decision to move out on the needs of their these longstanding African American residents children, specifically on their educational needs. searched for new homes, they decided to purchase The survey data confirm this theory. or rent outside of the city limits where housing Twenty-four percent of all respondents prices were more affordable and where they could cited that their children’s education and the get more equity in their homes (Castillo, 2011). need for “better schools” as a reason for moving Top reasons for leaving Austin, respondents who moved east vs. north 80 Moved north of Austin 67% 60 Moved east of Austin 51% 40 31% 23% 20% 18% 20 13% 11% 11% 8% 2% 3% 0 Affordability Better Overcrowded Racism/ Higher quality Job schools unwelcoming of life opportunities out. This was the second leading reason given • “The quality of schools, if it wasn’t for that I by respondents, and it underscores the extent would have loved to live in Austin.” Male, 49 to which moves were not based solely on • “The school district at Del Valle is much economic pressures. Beyond the issue of housing better…” -Female, 46 affordability, African American residents were responding to a particular social inequality. They DIMINISHED ACCESS FOR THOSE WHO believed that East Austin public schools, which are MOVED EAST among the most segregated in the region, were underserving their children. This sentiment
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