White People's Reactions to Having Black People as Neighbors: Current Patterns.

N

68

Blacks; Community Organizations; Educational Background; Ethnic Groups; Neighborhood Integration; Residential Patterns; Social Attitudes; Socioeconomic Background; Whites

California; California (Los Angeles); Colorado; Colorado (Denver); New York; New York (New York); Washington; Washington (Seattle)

Through an analysis of recent research, this study attempts to arrive at an overview of white peoples' reactions to having black people as neighbors, and discovers several patterns which depend on the composition of the neighborhood. Stable white areas, black areas, mixed areas, private residential developments, blue collar areas, suburbs, and ethnic neighborhoods are all discussed. The study also examines community-wide organizations in four metropolitan areas which use extensive networks of communication to advance black-white integration. The report concludes that increasing evidence points to low socioeconomic level and low educational level as major factors in white resistance to having black neighbors, but other factors such as fear of intermarriage, fear of lowered property value, and fear of crime still operate. The report does not find a distinct pattern of interaction in black-white integration but rather a variety of degrees and kinds of interaction. (Author/LAA)

1974

ED082077