Gentrification Causes Spike in Black Amish
“Our ancestors were working these fields long before they were,” spoke Deshawn, one of the newest members of the Lancaster, PA, Amish community.
“They may have brought experience from the old country, but the land here runs in our bloodline.”
Deshawn is one of the many faces of the new black Amish. His family was forced out of nearby Philadelphia due to increasing housing prices, primarily driven by gentrification. But Deshawn continues, “yeah, it really sucks because I loved Philly, man. You know?”
The term gentrification comes from the 1800s in England, when Lord Gentry wanted to expand his fiefdom, making room for his same-colored friends and subjects. So Lord Gentry decided to “clean up” and “modernize” the area, meaning he hired a team of musket-wielding men to chase out the current occupants of the land. Locals referred to this as Gentry’s action, which today is called gentrification.
In today’s terms, the muskets have been replaced with eviction notices, but the enforcers still look the same: white, fat, and rich.
“I always paid my rent on time, even if I had to work three jobs,” says Deshawn. “And for what, man? A couple of coffee shops that serve avocado spread over toast. It seems so stupid.”
