Feeling Invisible Black Residents leave Austin

Corrie MacLaggan who is the Tribune’s demographic reporter wrote this article on the decline of African- Americans in Austin.   She covered Texas government and politics in Austin.  She writes about everything from gubernatorial races to food stamp application backlogs.

This article describes how despite Austin being among the country’s fastest growing cities it is the only one shrinking within the African-American population.  The article based this claim from a May report from the University of Texas at Austin that used Census Bureau data.

 The author states that black residents of Austin are leaving Austin mainly because of racism and prejudice.  There is the belief that minorities are discriminated against by Austin Police.  Furthermore, some argue that African Americans experience a sense of not belonging.  In other words, African-Americans found Austin to be unwelcoming.  Natalie Cofield  president and CEO of the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce says, that even among the professionals there is “the sense of doing your time in Austin and then moving on because they feel invisible”. 

Tang said, that the reason for the decline include gaps in public education, a distrust of police and obstacles to accessing jobs in the city’s booming technology and construction industries.  While I have heard of Austin police using excessive force against minorities it is hard to believe that the reasons provided are the reasons African-Americans are leaving Austin.

African-Americans explain that all Austin has to offer is good music but they consider Austin to be a bubble city.   Most are seeking a city that can expose their children to the African-American culture and arts.

It seems to me that African-Americans are leaving Austin for the suburbs because of cheaper housing, better schools, and the chance to integrate into the broader community.  Thus, African-Americans are making themselves invisible.    As blacks run to the suburbs then there will be less and less African-Americans in Austin.  In fact, African-Americans seem to ostracize themselves by removing themselves from the city.  It would be good for them to participate in civic activities as well as community wide events such as South by Southwest or Austin Film Festival.

It seems obvious that African-Americans like to live in community.  As already seen in East Austin, they had a community there but more and more are moving to the suburbs.   While, it is okay if African-Americans need to run away and go and hang out with family and friends but they should come back because Austin has a booming economy and Austin is the city of the future.

In an effort to help African-Americans feel welcomed Terry Pierre, an event promoter and Cofield are determined to change things around by helping African-Americans become visible.  African-Americans have to take initiatives to make themselves seen. 

While, I agree with the statistics about African-Americans leaving Austin I disagree with the reason why they are leaving.  I do not think that they are leaving because of police brutality or economic inequality.  I do think that they are living Austin because they are looking for cheaper housing and better schools in the suburbs. Professionals are leaving Austin because of a lack of African-American culture and African-American arts in Austin.

It is obvious that the author of this article is trying to inform the people of Austin about the truth that surrounds them.  Thus, this article is a wake up call first to everyone including African-Americans about the issue at hand.