Racial equity in the post-civil rights suburbs? Evidence from US regions 2000–2012

Minority suburbanites in the US have historically lived in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods than Whites. Yet, those in suburbs that came of age after the 1960s civil rights era may be experiencing more equal outcomes. Using US Census data and descriptive statistics, this research tests whether post-civil rights suburbs had greater racial equity in neighbourhood poverty, college educated, and homeownership rates relative to central cities and older suburbs in 88 regions from 2000 to 2012. Minorities typically experienced better and more equitable neighbourhood conditions in the post-civil rights suburbs, with African American and low-income households accruing the greatest gains. Ordinary least squares regression modelling reveals that post-civil rights suburbs’ newer housing stock and greater racial integration and income equality contributed to their greater racial equity.