Abstract

Asheville, North Carolina, is often portrayed as a beacon of progressive ideals and policies compared to other cities in the South. This notion typically leads to the belief that people of color in Asheville experience racial and economic equality. This notion, however, is not supported by data. Asheville, like many other cities, participated in urban renewal projects with the goal of beautification and betterment of “blighted” areas. These projects targeted historic Black neighborhoods, and as a result, inhibited equality, and economic progression for the Black community through displacement, loss of ownership of homes and businesses, and the destruction of communities. There have been many studies on urban renewal in Asheville, as well as studies examining inequality in Asheville, however, to my knowledge there are no studies that fully examine the connection between the two topics. This study investigates the link between urban renewal and the rampant inequality in Asheville, using data from the Opportunity Atlas to compare tract-level data for historic Black neighborhoods that underwent renewal, to other neighborhoods in Asheville. Through my research, I have found significant connections between areas where urban renewal took place, poorer economic outcomes, and higher levels of inequality.

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