How D.C. got a dramatic gentrification makeover

How race and identity are shaping politics, policy and power.

Apr 15, 2022 View in browser   By Rishika Dugyala and Teresa Wiltz What up Recast family! Welcome back to the Next Great Migration — our series exploring the immense shift in Black population out of American cities, and how that's changing politics and power. Over many months, our data star Ming Li crunched Census numbers and discovered that the cities seeing the sharpest declines of Black residents are ones that — for decades — have had deep connections to Black politics and culture. Last century, Chicago was the epicenter of the Great Migration, where millions of Black Americans fled the apartheid of the Jim Crow South. So that's where we started, using data, analysis and on-the-ground reporting to get the full picture. Now, for the second installment of our magazine series, we're delving into the demographics of our own backyard: Washington, D.C., AKA the "Chocolate City." Ming Li/POLITICO What we found was compelling. The District was nearly half-Black by the mid-20th century, and more than 71 percent Black by 1970 — a capital city that was also a national icon of local Black political power. Now, the "Chocolate City" is no longer majority Black. Here are five takeaways you should know. ONE Ming Li/POLITICO The D.C. story is, at its core, a gentrification story. As the city's population has skyrocketed over the past 20 years, buoyed by a renaissance in urban life, it has also seen a sharp outflow of Black residents. Today, D.C. has the highest rates of displacement in the country. Our reporters Steven Overly, Delece Smith-Barrow and Katy O'Donnell explore the story of how it happened, and the reverberations on D.C.'s politics, arts and culture. TWO Patrick Cavan Brown for POLITICO In 1999, Williams took the reins of a broken city government and declared: "I wanted a hundred thousand new residents." He launched a strategy that focused on improving retail and expanding tourism beyond the National Mall. Tax revenue soared — and more Black residents dropped off while the white population soared. In recent years, D.C.'s unbroken string of Black mayors, including Muriel Bowser, have been buoyed by coalitions that include significant money from mostly white developers. THREE Illustration by Beth Suzanna From their earliest days, Black churches have been political by necessity — and D.C.'s churches are no exception. Over the last two decades, as congregations dwindled, more pastors began pushing for policy. In a video essay, our reporters JC Whittington and Monica Akhtar spoke to religious leaders organizing Black homeowners in the fight against gentrification. FOUR Patrick Cavan Brown for POLITICO Logan Circle, once the red-light district, now boasts renovated mansions and wine bars. Long-time Washingtonian Eric Easter contends that it's "demonstrably less Black, less brown, less poor, for certain, but that's not the full story. It arguably still has the kind of compelling, if different, mix of people that make a vibrant neighborhood necessary." FIVE Patrick Cavan Brown for POLITICO We'll end with this peek into the future of D.C. We're beginning to see a new and perhaps unexpected phenomenon: progressive, multiracial coalitions. Finding that common ground among the District's long-time residents and newcomers is increasingly essential in D.C. politics. And political strategists say there is common ground to be found, as voters eye the displacement of Black residents and rally around the push for statehood. These takeaways are just a small taste of the nuances of an ever-changing Washington. We hope you read the full stories online and share your own D.C. experience on Twitter using the hashtag #MyDCStory. Of course, you can always reach us at therecast@politico.com. All the best, The Recast Team   Follow us on Twitter Brakkton Booker @brakktonbooker Rishika Dugyala @rishikadugyala Teresa Wiltz @teresawiltz   Follow us

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