Drludovici Pencil Proposal Gentrification is an issue concerning both economic and social debate. However, for certain, gentrification is on the rise more than ever before. Historically denied minority groups now have the right and freedom to buy and own property. They have bought land and settled into their own communities and neighborhoods. Unfortunately, solely having the right to own land will not deter gentrification from taking place. Minority homeowners, specifically black homeowners, are greatly being affected by gentrification. Most importantly, the rising issue of gentrification initiated not only by Caucasians, but driven by other minorities as well. While scholars have done research on gentrification, studies have yet to expand on the effect it has on black homeowners. Moreover, little research on gentrification has been in areas with high black homeownership. It is crucial to analyze the challenges imposed on them and allow them to speak on issues affecting their community. I aim to study how does gentrification affect black homeowners mentally, economically, and socially. The study will be conducted in East Elmhurst, a neighborhood in New York, affluent in black homeownership. East Elmhurst is described as a "neighborhood of Cape Cods and small stucco homes" (Berger). Located in Massachusetts, Cape Cods is known for its big houses with a white picket fence. Comparing East Elmhurst to it implies the neighborhood is more of a middle-class one. This area is where the first African Americans could buy houses in the 1970s, and one of the few places where blacks enter and not be ostracized. After purchasing, they never left. East Elmhurst has residents with the longest tenure. It is relevant to African American roots in East Elmhurst and its centrality in African Americans' social mobility. While people in New York tend to move around following any flow of income that comes their way, East Elmhurst residents tend to stay in place. "It took their last dollars to buy their house, and they want to protect that house" (Berger). The previous African American landowners made advancements towards creating better schooling, forms of transportations, and more senior centers. It is described as a "stable" neighborhood and gives off the feeling that it will be around for a long time. Perhaps since East Elmhurst was built on a strong foundation, African Americans' efforts will be long-lasting. If it were not for the developments carried out by the first African American families that moved to East Elmhurst, the neighborhood wouldn't be the way it is now. However, over the past decade, the district has undergone gentrification. Due to the high rate of black homeownership and residents having a great appreciation for their neighborhood, East Elmhurst is an ideal fieldsite. Despite the high black population and deep roots in African American history, it is not susceptible to gentrification. The percentage of black people continues to dec ...

1. Drludovici
Pencil
Proposal
Gentrification is an issue concerning both economic and social
debate. However, for certain, gentrification is on the rise more
than ever before. Historically denied minority groups now have
the right and freedom to buy and own property. They have
bought land and settled into their own communities and
neighborhoods. Unfortunately, solely having the right to own
land will not deter gentrification from taking place. Minority
homeowners, specifically black homeowners, are greatly being
affected by gentrification. Most importantly, the rising issue of
gentrification initiated not only by Caucasians, but driven by
other minorities as well. While scholars have done research on
gentrification, studies have yet to expand on the effect it has on
black homeowners. Moreover, little research on gentrification
has been in areas with high black homeownership. It is crucial
to analyze the challenges imposed on them and allow them to
speak on issues affecting their community. I aim to study how

2. does gentrification affect black homeowners mentally,
economically, and socially.
The study will be conducted in East Elmhurst, a neighborhood
in New York, affluent in black homeownership. East Elmhurst
is described as a "neighborhood of Cape Cods and small stucco
homes" (Berger). Located in Massachusetts, Cape Cods is
known for its big houses with a white picket fence. Comparing
East Elmhurst to it implies the neighborhood is more of a
middle-class one. This area is where the first African Americans
could buy houses in the 1970s, and one of the few places where
blacks enter and not be ostracized. After purchasing, they never
left. East Elmhurst has residents with the longest tenure. It is
relevant to African American roots in East Elmhurst and its
centrality in African Americans' social mobility. While people
in New York tend to move around following any flow of income
that comes their way, East Elmhurst residents tend to stay in
place. "It took their last dollars to buy their house, and they
want to protect that house" (Berger). The previous African
American landowners made advancements towards creating
better schooling, forms of transportations, and more senior
centers. It is described as a "stable" neighborhood and gives off
the feeling that it will be around for a long time. Perhaps since
East Elmhurst was built on a strong foundation, African
Americans' efforts will be long-lasting. If it were not for the
developments carried out by the first African American families
that moved to East Elmhurst, the neighborhood wouldn't be the
way it is now. However, over the past decade, the district has
undergone gentrification. Due to the high rate of black
homeownership and residents having a great appreciation for
their neighborhood, East Elmhurst is an ideal fieldsite. Despite
the high black population and deep roots in African American
history, it is not susceptible to gentrification. The percentage of
black people continues to decrease with time.
Regarding the economic effect gentrification has on minorities,
Michelle Boyd touches on how depending on class difference,
minorities are disproportionately impacted by gentrification. He

3. explores the idea of middle-class African Americans used as a
tool to promote tourism. Specifically, “those who support
attracting middle‐ class blacks to the community see their
financial and personal investment as a form of race uplift”
(Boyd). Boyd uses the term “Black gentrification” to highlight
gentrification with African Americans as the perpetrators.
Furthermore, affluent blacks threaten to displace the
neighborhood’s long-time residents. It is gentrification
promoted and carried out by African Americans, which
contradicts the conventional notion of whites against
communities of color. On the other hand, while black
homeowners may help drive gentrification, it is important to
recognize how affluent African Americans can also be on the
receiving end on gentrification. As is happening in East
Elmhurst, middle-class blacks are also being driven out of their
communities—same as the low-income.
In the article "Impact of gentrification on adult mental health,"
researchers emphasize the psychological stress residents
experience in a gentrifying or gentrified neighborhood. They
discovered adults living in a gentrified and upscaled
neighborhood had increased risks for severe psychological
distress compared to adults living in low-income and non-
gentrified areas. Gentrification disrupts community relations,
implements feelings of cultural displacement, and destroys
social network, contributing to residents' mental instability.
Economically vulnerable adults living in gentrifying areas had
greater levels of depression and anxiety (Tran). However, the
study excluded homeowners, high-income residents, and recent
residents. It failed to consider the perspective of minority
homeowners who are also being negatively impacted by
gentrification. There is the experience of minority homeowners
being pushed out non-minority homeowners, and it is imperative
to dive deeper into it.
Social gatherings work as a way for people to feel a sense of
belonging and a lack of displacement. Specifically,
congregations play vital social roles in cities, “including

4. building bridges between residents, providing community
services, and injecting a moral tone in their neighbors”
(Camino). Richard Cimino mainly focuses on how gentrification
impacts congregations in minority neighborhoods. Churches act
as a social space for bonds of religious members to strengthen.
They are essentially a social community giving stability to
religious members even as neighborhoods are gentrified,
helping residents navigate neighborhood changes. However,
when minority members are forced out of their settings,
religious social networks are severed. Gentrification changes
the relationship of congregations to their neighborhoods. While
this may be the case, it is vital to focus on how religious black
homeowners are affected by gentrification. Especially in East
Elmhurst, where in the early-mid 1900s there was an influx of
African Americans, there is a large quantity of Black Baptist
churches in 2020. While renters may move around, homeowners
typically stay in place, allowing them to establish firm
connections with congregations. Homeowners, specifically
black religious homeowners, will be disproportionately
impacted.
I plan to focus on black homeowners in East Elmhurst, but I
want to sample from a church, showing it as an institution. In
East Elmhurst, the black population continues to dwindle, and
other minority groups are moving in. However, there is still a
high population of blacks in East Elmhurst churches, even as
the demographics change. Methods I plan to use include
interviewing, interacting with people who inhabit the space, and
analyzing public data. First, I will go to the church which I will
sample from, First Baptist Church, to interact and engage with
participants. I aim to observe by listening to church services,
attending events, and participating in community services. I
want to get close and establish a relationship with members of
the church before interviewing. I hope to learn and gain insight
into their personal experience. Next, through interacting with
members of the church, I hope to find people who are
homeowners. After gathering a list, I plan to interview a sample

5. of at least ten religious black homeowners from First Baptist
Church. Through the interview, I want to capture direct quotes,
dive into the neighborhood's culture, and their experience of
living in East Elmhurst as a black homeowner. My questions
will be gauged towards learning about alarming neighborhood
changes, including gentrification, and how they have been
impacted economically, mentally, and socially. With the goal in
mind to utilize data, I will also obtain public information about
the demographic changes taking place in East Elmhurst. Also,
public records displaying the demographics of residents, as well
as their homeownership and religious affiliation. I would like to
analyze all the information I receive from my interviewees with
the online data. I aim to explore commonalities, as well as
significant differences. These methods would take place over a
6-month time period. By sampling black homeowners solely
from a church comprised of Christians, particularly of the
Baptist denomination, it may raise questions about whether
religious black homeowners' experience differs from non-
religious homeowners. Another study could be done to see how
the findings differ.
My study will contribute to gentrification's overall analysis but
emphasize how gentrification impacts minority groups differing
in class and religion. While research has been done on
gentrification, little has stressed gentrification driven by
minority groups, affecting communities of color. And how not
low-income groups, but affluent black homeowners are also
familiar with gentrification. East Elmhurst is specifically
composed of a high percentage of middle-class black
homeowners. I will voice middle-class black homeowners'
experience in a conversation usually directed towards low -
income minority groups as victims. Also, the role of churches in
gentrification has yet to be widely discussed. I hope to also
bring to the surface how black churches act as a structure of
stability and security in changing communities with rising
tensions.

6. Works Cited
Berger, Joseph. “There Stays the Neighborhood.” New York
Times, 7 Jan. 2011.
Boyd, Michelle. “The Downside of Racial Uplift: Meaning of
Gentrification in an African
American Neighborhood.” AnthroSource, vol.17, no.2, 2002,
p.265-288.
Cimino, Richard. “Neighborhoods, Niches, and Networks: The
Religious Ecology of Gentrification.” Wiley Online
Library, vol.10, no.2, 2011, p.157-181.
Tran, Linda Diem. “Impact of Gentrification on Adult Mental
Health.” Health Services
Research, vol.55, no.3, 2020, p.432-444.
Title:
Research Objective and Question: This is where you set up
your project at along a broad general interest and pose your
research question?
Background: This is where you describe your field site with
information relevant to your topic and question. Why is it ideal
to answering your question?
Literature Review: Discuss your scholarly source and tell your
audience what your case will add to this literature.

7. Methods: What will you do to collect your data and how will it
answer your research question? Be specific about what you will
do and what your timeline to carry it out will be.
Expected results: What debates do you expect your research to
contribute to? What are impacts your research will have to a
broader public?
I’ve put this flowchart here for your reference as well: