Chicago's South Side "black belt"
contained zones related to
economic status. The poorest
blacks lived in the northernmost,
oldest section of the black belt,
while the elite resided in the
southernmost section.
Apartment building in a black
section of Chicago, Illinois, April
1941 Russell Lee, Photographer
Gelatin-silver print FSA-OWI
Collection Prints and Photographs
Division (126)
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/
afam011.html
Chicago's South Side "black belt"
contained zones related to
economic status. The poorest
blacks lived in the northernmost,
oldest section of the black belt,
while the elite resided in the
southernmost section.
Apartment building in a black
section of Chicago, Illinois, April
1941 Russell Lee, Photographer
Gelatin-silver print FSA-OWI
Collection Prints and Photographs
Division (126)
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/
afam011.html
Chicago's South Side "black belt"
contained zones related to economic
status. The poorest blacks lived in the
northernmost, oldest section of the
black belt, while the elite resided in
the southernmost section.
Apartment building in a black section
of Chicago, Illinois, April 1941 Russell
Lee, Photographer Gelatin-silver print
FSA-OWI Collection Prints and
Photographs Division (126)
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afa
m011.html
Deteriorated neighborhood conditions, c. 1950. During
World War II, an estimated sixty thousand additional
African Americans moved to Chicago, settling in the
Douglas/Grand Boulevard neighborhood and on the
West Side. A lack of adequate housing, combined with
restrictive covenants that prohibited blacks from moving
into surrounding neighborhoods, resulted in seriously
overcrowded conditions. After the war, with the easing of
Chicago's housing codes, members of the black middle
class began to move out of Douglas/Grand Boulevard
into neighborhoods further south. In addition, Chicago's
wartime economy slowed, resulting in unemployment for
many inner-city residents. As a result, Chicago's inner
core became increasingly poor, and, although some
residential areas of Douglas/Grand Boulevard remained
viable, the overall state of deterioration convinced city
officials of the need for urban renewal as a means to
revitalize and save the inner core of the city.
Photograph by Mildred Mead. Chicago Historical Society
Deteriorated neighborhood conditions, c. 1950. During
World War II, an estimated sixty thousand additional
African Americans moved to Chicago, settling in the
Douglas/Grand Boulevard neighborhood and on the
West Side. A lack of adequate housing, combined with
restrictive covenants that prohibited blacks from moving
into surrounding neighborhoods, resulted in seriously
overcrowded conditions. After the war, with the easing of
Chicago's housing codes, members of the black middle
class began to move out of Douglas/Grand Boulevard
into neighborhoods further south. In addition, Chicago's
wartime economy slowed, resulting in unemployment for
many inner-city residents. As a result, Chicago's inner
core became increasingly poor, and, although some
residential areas of Douglas/Grand Boulevard remained
viable, the overall state of deterioration convinced city
officials of the need for urban renewal as a means to
revitalize and save the inner core of the city.
Photograph by Mildred Mead. Chicago Historical Society
Deteriorated neighborhood conditions, c. 1950. During
World War II, an estimated sixty thousand additional
African Americans moved to Chicago, settling in the
Douglas/Grand Boulevard neighborhood and on the
West Side. A lack of adequate housing, combined with
restrictive covenants that prohibited blacks from moving
into surrounding neighborhoods, resulted in seriously
overcrowded conditions. After the war, with the easing of
Chicago's housing codes, members of the black middle
class began to move out of Douglas/Grand Boulevard
into neighborhoods further south. In addition, Chicago's
wartime economy slowed, resulting in unemployment for
many inner-city residents. As a result, Chicago's inner
core became increasingly poor, and, although some
residential areas of Douglas/Grand Boulevard remained
viable, the overall state of deterioration convinced city
officials of the need for urban renewal as a means to
revitalize and save the inner core of the city.
Photograph by Mildred Mead. Chicago Historical Society
The kitchenette fills our black boys with longing and
restlessness, urging them to run off from home, to join
together with other restless black boys in gangs, that
brutal form of city courage. . . The kitchenette is the
funnel through which our pulverized lives flow to ruin
and death on the city pavements, at a profit. . .
Wright, Richard. Twelve Million Black Voices (New
York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 1941), pp. 112-116.
Russell Lee. "Kitchenette Apartment," Chicago. 1941. FSA. Library of Congress.
The kitchenette fills our black boys with longing and
restlessness, urging them to run off from home, to join
together with other restless black boys in gangs, that
brutal form of city courage. . . The kitchenette is the
funnel through which our pulverized lives flow to ruin
and death on the city pavements, at a profit. . .
Wright, Richard. Twelve Million Black Voices (New
York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 1941), pp. 112-116.
Russell Lee. "Kitchenette Apartment," Chicago. 1941. FSA. Library of Congress.
The kitchenette fills our black boys with longing and
restlessness, urging them to run off from home, to join
together with other restless black boys in gangs, that
brutal form of city courage. . . The kitchenette is the
funnel through which our pulverized lives flow to ruin
and death on the city pavements, at a profit. . .
Wright, Richard. Twelve Million Black Voices (New
York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 1941), pp. 112-116.
Russell Lee. "Kitchenette Apartment," Chicago. 1941. FSA. Library of Congress.