Change is constant. And nowhere does that ring more true than in the major cities across America. Immigration, gentrification, and the cost of living all factor into where Blacks have settled over the years. The following list includes the top big cities with the largest Black populations according to 2010 census. In another ten years, we can guess that the bottom five may fall off the list.
10. Los Angeles, CA 859, 086
L.A’s black population is definitely dwindling, as its Hispanic population continues to rise. Today, preference for city jobs is given to bi-lingual speakers.
9. Dallas, TX 941,695
Low cost of living helps to maintain Dallas’ healthy Black population.
8. Detroit, MI 972,689
Detroit’s population is decreasing across the board thanks to a shaky economy and notoriously bad city management (hello Kwame Kilpatrick). There’s no Motown glory to this city, which once provided stable jobs in the automotive industry.
7. Houston, TX 998,883
Houston is a popular destination for many African-Americans leaving California.
6. Miami, FL 1,096,536
Miami’s strong Black population is buffered largely by its large immigrant Haitian population.
5. Philadelphia, PA 1,204,303
Very little changes in Philadelphia. The stagnant city has maintained a strong Black population over the last century despite slow economic growth and high crime. It’s also one of the few cities with a visible Black Muslim population.
4. Washington, DC 1,409,473
Despite news of DC becoming less Black due to gentrification, its still Chocolate City for now.
3. Chicago, IL 1,613,644
Chi-town, home of Obama, Kanye West, and Common is still holding it down.
2. Atlanta, GA 1,679,979
Is it any surprise that Atlanta ranks so high? The symbol of the civil rights movement is the most popular destination for African-American refugees of high-priced states like California and New York.
1. New York, NY 3,044,096
New York is a large city, with five boroughs, which partially explains its claim to the largest Black city. But, the other critical factor is immigration. Brooklyn is home to a large Caribbean population and Harlem is home to a large West African Caribbean population. Throw in Black Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Haitians and there you go.
