The UN’s sustainable development goal 10 in New York: addressing gentrification and black-community displacement in Harlem

Abstract

Bachelor's degree in Global Studies. Curs 2024-2025

Tutor: Stephen Jacobson

During the Great Migration in the mid 20th century, many Black families moved and relocated in Northern states, escaping and seeking freedom from the oppressive conditions on slavery in the South. In this process, Harlem in New York, emerged as the Black Mecca being the main economic and cultural hub for African Americans, which eventually had a strong community identity and heritage. However in the recent decades, the rising rental prices due to projects of reinvestment in the area, the influx of higher-income newcomers and the expansion of the Columbia University Campus, is erasing Harlem’s culture, consequently displacing long-term residents, weakening the strong African-American heritage and closing up many Black-owned businesses. Thus, this research project examines the socio-economic and cultural impacts of gentrification on Harlem’s population and identity, with a particular emphasis on the demographic shifts, income disparities and the implications of the Empire State Development Cooperation for Columbia University. Aiming to work achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 in Harlem, by focusing on reducing inequalities through inclusive urban planning and propose urban policy strategies to mitigate displacement, preserve cultural heritage, and promote equitable development.