The Subtleties of Social Exclusion: Race, Social Class, and the Exclusion of Blacks in a Racially Mixed Neighborhood

Authors

Daniel Monroe Sullivan, Portland State University
Jonathan Picarsic, Portland State University

Published In

Sociology MInd

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2012

Subjects

Portland (Or.)--Race relations, Gentrification, Social integration, Neighborhoods, Social Classes

Abstract

We use interviews, content analysis, and surveys to describe how a neighborhood association in a racially mixed neighborhood in Portland, Oregon (USA) subtly excludes many blacks from being full members of the neighborhood. In contrast to explicit cases of social exclusion, this neighborhood association excludes blacks without ever referring to race. They instead justify their actions—e.g., helping close down a black social club and discouraging more affordable housing—based on such nonracial goals as increasing homeownership, minimizing crime, and maximizing “economic diversity.” We argue that without the inclusion of black residents and their neighborhood organizations (e.g., churches) in the decision-making process, mixed-race neighborhoods will continue to lose their diversity.

Rights

Copyright © 2012 SciRes.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.4236/sm.2012.22020

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/16104

Citation Details

Sullivan, D. & Picarsic, J. (2012). The Subtleties of Social Exclusion: Race, Social Class, and the Exclusion of Blacks in a Racially Mixed Neighborhood. Sociology Mind, 2, 153-157.