Not sure if “affluent” is the right word. The people there were absolutely fucked over, and the decision to raze the village was blatant racism. But it was only 225 people, and the vast majority were living in poverty; only a couple could even be considered middle class by the standards at the time. It was no Black Wallstreet.
The 5 blocks seem like a drop in the bucket, they probably could have just carved it out and let it be right? Oh nevermind, the rampant racism, class war, and general greed got in the way.
Just read a bit on it and it’s not farmland.
However, the story is pretty grim where they tried to build the park elsewhere but rich families pushed back.
Then, among the lot they finally chose, there was communities of slaves and european immigrants. They used racism to make their eviction look better referring to them as insects among other things.
Landlords (20% of the pop) got compensation but squatters and renters did not.
Ah, no one told you… Central Park sits where an affluent black community once existed (Seneca village), but was seized using eminent domain and razed.
Not sure if “affluent” is the right word. The people there were absolutely fucked over, and the decision to raze the village was blatant racism. But it was only 225 people, and the vast majority were living in poverty; only a couple could even be considered middle class by the standards at the time. It was no Black Wallstreet.
Seneca Village was 5 blocks. Central Park is 153 blocks.
The 5 blocks seem like a drop in the bucket, they probably could have just carved it out and let it be right? Oh nevermind, the rampant racism, class war, and general greed got in the way.
but did this include their farmland?
Just read a bit on it and it’s not farmland. However, the story is pretty grim where they tried to build the park elsewhere but rich families pushed back. Then, among the lot they finally chose, there was communities of slaves and european immigrants. They used racism to make their eviction look better referring to them as insects among other things. Landlords (20% of the pop) got compensation but squatters and renters did not.
Plenty of other better examples of thriving black communities being destroyed by eminent domain by the US however. https://historyfortomorrow.org/story/eminent-domain-and-the-displacement-of-black-communities/
As is tradition.
… Can’t let black people build something nice.
Clicked through to comment this. Thank you for your service. ✊🏼