The Black Side of the River: Race, Language, and Belonging in Washington, DC

Gentrification is transforming urban landscapes, often pushing local Black populations to the margins. In The Black Side of the River, sociolinguist Jessi Grieser explores how residents of Anacostia, a historically Black neighborhood in Washington, DC, use language to create connections among racial, place, and class identities, reject negative characterizations of place, and negotiate ideas of belonging. Grieser's work calls to center Black lived experiences in urban research, confront the racial effects of urban change, and preserve the rich culture and community in historic Black neighborhoods.

Format: Hardback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Georgetown University Press

Across the United States, cities are undergoing significant transformations, driven by processes such as gentrification. This urban shift is reshaping urban landscapes, often marginalizing local Black populations. As a consequence, communities with rich histories and strong identities are grappling with fundamental questions about their identity and place in the world.

In her book "The Black Side of the River," sociolinguist Jessi Grieser delves into the impact of urban change on Black culture, identity, and language. Through ten years of interviews with dozens of residents of Anacostia, a historically Black neighborhood in Washington, DC, Grieser explores these ideas through the lens of language use.

Grieser's findings reveal that residents of Anacostia employ specific speech features to forge connections between their racial, place, and class identities. They also reject negative characterizations of their neighborhood from individuals outside the community and negotiate ideas of belonging.

Interestingly, Grieser's research takes place in a neighborhood that is experiencing substantial class gentrification while remaining predominantly Black. Despite this demographic shift, Grieser observes that Anacostians use language to assert a positive, hopeful place identity that is intricately linked to their racial identity.

Grieser's work serves as a powerful call to center Black lived experiences in urban research, address the racial implications of urban change, and preserve the rich culture and community in historic Black neighborhoods, such as Anacostia, in Washington, DC, and beyond. By understanding the ways in which language shapes and reflects the experiences of Black communities, we can better understand the complex dynamics of urban transformation and work towards creating more inclusive and equitable cities for all.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647121525