With few exceptions, neighborhoods in Cleveland are largely white or largely black. This geographic segregation has serious ripple effects for everyone, and it didn鈥檛 happen by chance, but rather by specific policies and events. We鈥檙e looking at this phenomenon for the next several days in the series Divided by Design. The series鈥� coordinating producer, ideastream鈥檚 Anne Glausser, spoke with 鈥淢orning Edition鈥� host Amy Eddings about the series.
On the genesis of 鈥淒ivided by Design鈥�:
鈥淲hen we did a quick audience survey in a Listening Project just before this series launched, many people wrote in about why Cleveland鈥檚 segregated neighborhoods really matter, and why it matters to talk about these things, citing impacts like racism and fear of the unknown, neglect of minority neighborhoods, entire populations stuck in poor schools, crumbling housing, low job opportunities, crime, perpetuation of poverty and [the] wealth gap. So there鈥檚 really some compelling reasons to look at our neighborhoods and the lack of diversity across our neighborhoods,鈥� said Glausser
On the extent of segregation in Cleveland:
鈥淲e looked at the data here and there are predominantly white neighborhoods, like Hunting Valley with a 99 percent white population and then there are predominantly black neighborhoods like Lee-Harvard with a 97 percent black population,鈥� said Glausser. 鈥淎nd truly integrated neighborhoods, at 50/50, with a balance, are pretty few and far between, with the Heights area (Cleveland and Shaker Heights) being a notable exception (Census data from 2012 showed Cleveland Heights with a population that was 42 percent black and 50 percent white, while Shaker Heights鈥� population was 38 percent black and 53 percent white.)
On whether Cleveland鈥檚 segregated neighborhoods are unique:
鈥淣o, and that鈥檚 important to bring to the surface here,鈥� said Glausser. 鈥淧eer cities like Detroit and Chicago face the same divide. Cleveland is one of the top ten of the nation鈥檚 segregated regions when it comes to the black/white population.
On the black/white focus of the series:
鈥淭his coverage is just a part of a commitment from ideastream to report on issues of race and race relations in a concerted manner over the coming months. We will be able to look at our other minority communities 鈥� Asian, Latino -- in later months,鈥� said Glausser.
On the need to know the history of neighborhood segregation:
鈥淚 think it matters to fully look at it, to acknowledge where we鈥檙e at, first and foremost. But it also matters to understand the history of inequity, how we got here, so we can apply that knowledge to the present,鈥� said Glausser. 鈥淪ome scholars I鈥檝e talked to argue that current areas of disinvestment really track with historic redlining maps and discriminatory practices, so there鈥檚 really a need to look to history as we create our present.鈥�
