Rethinking the “buffering” theory of neighborhood racial transition

Abstract

In metropolitan areas with significant numbers of Latinx and Black people, Santiago (1991) hypothesized that Latinx groups may “buffer” white neighborhoods from Black ones. Farley and Frey (1994, https://doi.org/10.2307/2096131) subsequently suggested that Latinx and Asian groups provide a social or spatial “buffer” that enables White and Black neighborhood coresidence. In predominantly White spaces, increases in the neighborhood shares of Latinx and Asian populations moderates White resistance to the presence of Blacks, and this helps explain growing neighborhood racial diversity in the United States. This essay suggests expanding the thesis in several ways. We first consider reversing the theory wherein Latinx and Asian groups provide a “buffer” enabling White and Black coresidence because Blacks are cushioned from the actions of Whites. This view requires us to include not only White tolerance but also White intolerance in the buffering logic. Second, we point out that racially mixed neighborhoods may also come about because people want to live in such diverse environments. Third, this leads to a consideration of processes of neighborhood racial mixing that include the roles of real estate markets actors in shaping neighborhood outcomes as well as the motivations of Latinx, Asian, and mixed‐race populations.

Changes in mixed ethnicity households and neighbourhood transitions in England and Wales

“…The literature has evolved to accommodate neighbourhood formations adapted to the growth of Asian, Latinx and Black groups relative to the White population (e.g., Holloway et al, 2012; Logan & Zhang, 2010). Explanations for observed neighbourhood transitions, nevertheless, still gravitate towards White intolerance for the presence of racial and ethnic others in their residential environs, especially Black people (Wright & Ellis, 2021).…”

“…In its original form, buffering theory held that the presence of Asian or Latinx people in largely White neighbourhoods in the United States makes it easier for Black people to be accepted as neighbours by White residents in those spaces (Farley & Frey, 1994; Santiago, 1991). Recently, Wright and Ellis (2021) speculated that mixed‐race households could similarly ‘buffer’ White intolerance of racialised others. Such households reduce the magnitude of change posed by households where all members are not White.…”