Transcribe
Translate
Burlington Self-Survey on Human Relations: Final report, 1950
Page 80
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
80 proportion of Negro ownership has almost doubled since 1940. This probably reflects the considerable improvement in economic opportunity provided by the war industrial and business expansion; but it also raises a question as to why the Negro ownership is seemingly disproportionately high. The 1950 Negro housing data reported about 15 per cent more Negro dwellings costing three thousand or more dollars as for the city at large in 1940. This trend is similar to that shown in ownership. However, values for all housing have increased since 1940, and the Negro dwelling values reflect this increase. They probably are still substantially below values for the whole city at the present time. The increase in Negro ownership since 1940 explains, in large part, the high Negro figure for it means that purchases were made at a time of inflation in costs. Our data show, in addition, that three houses occupied by Negroes were in the $8000-$12000 category, and that four structures occupied by them were built since 1940. In the disproportionate high incidence of Negro ownership, the possible explanation is raised that, in the tight general market of the war period, ownership was the primary means of being assured of having a house to live in. This is strongly suggested by the findings on local real estate firms which handle practically no Negro rental business. 5. There is a lower proportion of Negro dwellings in 1950 without private baths than existed for the city at large in 1940. This difference most likely reflects improvements in the aspect of Negro housing since 1940 rather than a better picture at present in comparison with the general housing of the city. 6. In the age of structures, the proportion of dwelling units needing major repairs, and water facilities, the condition of below that of the city as a whole in 1940. These are the primary indices of poorer quality of Negro housing. Negro units are slightly older than those occupied by the general population in 1940, and they have almost twice as many units needing major repairs. Only 73 per cent of the 1950 Negro dwelling units had running water in both the kitchen and the bath room; 21 per cent had running water only in the kitchen and 4.2 per cent had such facilities only in the bath room. There are no comparable figures for the city as a whole from the 1940 data, although, at that time, 92 per cent of
Saving...
prev
next
80 proportion of Negro ownership has almost doubled since 1940. This probably reflects the considerable improvement in economic opportunity provided by the war industrial and business expansion; but it also raises a question as to why the Negro ownership is seemingly disproportionately high. The 1950 Negro housing data reported about 15 per cent more Negro dwellings costing three thousand or more dollars as for the city at large in 1940. This trend is similar to that shown in ownership. However, values for all housing have increased since 1940, and the Negro dwelling values reflect this increase. They probably are still substantially below values for the whole city at the present time. The increase in Negro ownership since 1940 explains, in large part, the high Negro figure for it means that purchases were made at a time of inflation in costs. Our data show, in addition, that three houses occupied by Negroes were in the $8000-$12000 category, and that four structures occupied by them were built since 1940. In the disproportionate high incidence of Negro ownership, the possible explanation is raised that, in the tight general market of the war period, ownership was the primary means of being assured of having a house to live in. This is strongly suggested by the findings on local real estate firms which handle practically no Negro rental business. 5. There is a lower proportion of Negro dwellings in 1950 without private baths than existed for the city at large in 1940. This difference most likely reflects improvements in the aspect of Negro housing since 1940 rather than a better picture at present in comparison with the general housing of the city. 6. In the age of structures, the proportion of dwelling units needing major repairs, and water facilities, the condition of below that of the city as a whole in 1940. These are the primary indices of poorer quality of Negro housing. Negro units are slightly older than those occupied by the general population in 1940, and they have almost twice as many units needing major repairs. Only 73 per cent of the 1950 Negro dwelling units had running water in both the kitchen and the bath room; 21 per cent had running water only in the kitchen and 4.2 per cent had such facilities only in the bath room. There are no comparable figures for the city as a whole from the 1940 data, although, at that time, 92 per cent of
Campus Culture
sidebar
