Hip and Harmonious Living: Race and class implications of new revitalization efforts on urban America
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Authors
Ryan, Jill
Issue Date
2003
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
This paper explores the Cool Cities phenomenon, a new revitalization effort in which
cities aim to attract young professionals. Richard Florida explains that this emerging
"creative class" is the key to bringing cities back to life. This plan, however, fails to
encompass the class and race issues existing in cities today. According to MacLeod the
cycle of class regeneration will continue keeping the poor, poor and allowing the rich to
get richer. Bourdieu also adds that because the population already living in cities lacks
the cultural capital, they are unable to jump from one class to the next. Their theories
assume that adding the creative class, a mostly white middle- to upper-class group of
young people, will only perpetuate the problems of the urban poor.
However Florida and many urban planners feel that the creative class may be able to
break this cycle in dying urban cores. The creative class is an accepting group of new
thinkers. Their ability to accept people different from themselves will lead to more
diverse living conditions within cities. They hold the responsibility of organizing the
community to help end gentrification. The creative class in turn will help rebuild the tax
base in these areas by owning and restoring homes in older urban neighborhoods. Their
taste in food, music and recreation will attract more businesses and create parks and other
facilities for recreation further helping the whole community.
Description
iv, 42 p.
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