Quote of the day: African-Americans looking for better lives outside of Chicago

African-Americans are the same as most. They want a bigger house, better schools, a better quality of life than they can get in the city.

– State Rep. Will Burns, on the decline of Chicago’s African-American population since 2000. The number of black (non-Hispanic) residents dropped by almost 10 percent from 2000 to 2008, a fact Burns attributes to “gentrification of traditionally black areas like the South Loop and Bronzeville” and displacement following the demolition of the Robert Taylor Homes and other projects.

The exodus shouldn’t register in the city’s overall population count once the 2010 Census figures are in, however, thanks largely to a continuing influx of new Hispanic residents.

(Hat tip to Gapers Block for the link.)

(Visited 77 times, 1 visits today)