The Undesirable Many
Black Women and Their Struggles against Displacement and Housing Insecurity in the Nation’s Capital
By Rosemary Ndubuizu | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
About the book
Amid a national housing affordability crisis with political and social implications, Washington, DC, is notorious for its rapidly rising income inequality, high rates of displacement, and some of the most expensive rents in the country. Housing policy expert Rosemary Ndubuizu uncovers more than 100 years of affordable housing politics in the nation’s capital to illustrate local and national trends in how various social, economic, and political forces have worked together to ensure the persistent vulnerability of low-wage Black families to housing insecurity and displacement.
Since the 1960s, Black women have been at the forefront of combating efforts to force Black people out of DC. The Undesirable Many recounts the history of Black women’s tenant activism and organized opposition through a Black feminist materialism framework that exposes present-day housing inequities as deeply entangled in the politics and practices of gender and racial inequity. Drawing on extensive archival research and dozens of in-depth interviews with Black women tenant activists and affordable housing advocates, Ndubuizu uncovers how gendered stereotypes of Black tenant irresponsibility have shaped market behavior and informed political justification for different consumer treatment. Politicians, landlords, and even nonprofit housing providers often championed disciplinary housing governance such as mandatory housekeeping classes, welfare garnishment, paternal property management, and case management, contending that the problem was not housing but the Black family itself. By exposing these strategies alongside low-income Black women’s political perspectives and experiences, The Undesirable Many offers valuable lessons for contemporary challenges in affordable housing advocacy and welfare politics.
Editions of The Undesirable Many
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469689678
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469689685
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469689692
- PDF
- ISBN 9781469689708
Read an Excerpt
Amid a national housing affordability crisis with political and social implications, Washington, DC, is notorious for its rapidly rising income inequality, high rates of displacement, and some of the most expensive rents in the country. Housing policy expert Rosemary Ndubuizu uncovers more than 100 years of affordable housing politics in the nation’s capital to illustrate local and national trends in how various social, economic, and political forces have worked together to ensure the persistent vulnerability of low-wage Black families to housing insecurity and displacement.
Since the 1960s, Black women have been at the forefront of combating efforts to force Black people out of DC. The Undesirable Many recounts the history of Black women’s tenant activism and organized opposition through a Black feminist materialism framework that exposes present-day housing inequities as deeply entangled in the politics and practices of gender and racial inequity. Drawing on extensive archival research and dozens of in-depth interviews with Black women tenant activists and affordable housing advocates, Ndubuizu uncovers how gendered stereotypes of Black tenant irresponsibility have shaped market behavior and informed political justification for different consumer treatment. Politicians, landlords, and even nonprofit housing providers often championed disciplinary housing governance such as mandatory housekeeping classes, welfare garnishment, paternal property management, and case management, contending that the problem was not housing but the Black family itself. By exposing these strategies alongside low-income Black women’s political perspectives and experiences, The Undesirable Many offers valuable lessons for contemporary challenges in affordable housing advocacy and welfare politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Undesirable Many about?
Amid a national housing affordability crisis with political and social implications, Washington, DC, is notorious for its rapidly rising income inequality, high rates of displacement, and some of the most expensive rents in the country. Housing policy expert Rosemary Ndubuizu uncovers more than 100 years of affordable housing politics in the nation’s capital to illustrate local and national trends in how various social, economic, and political forces have worked together to ensure the persistent vulnerability of low-wage Black families to housing insecurity and displacement.
Since the 1960s, Black women have been at the forefront of combating efforts to force Black people out of DC. The Undesirable Many recounts the history of Black women’s tenant activism and organized opposition through a Black feminist materialism framework that exposes present-day housing inequities as deeply entangled in the politics and practices of gender and racial inequity. Drawing on extensive archival research and dozens of in-depth interviews with Black women tenant activists and affordable housing advocates, Ndubuizu uncovers how gendered stereotypes of Black tenant irresponsibility have shaped market behavior and informed political justification for different consumer treatment. Politicians, landlords, and even nonprofit housing providers often championed disciplinary housing governance such as mandatory housekeeping classes, welfare garnishment, paternal property management, and case management, contending that the problem was not housing but the Black family itself. By exposing these strategies alongside low-income Black women’s political perspectives and experiences, The Undesirable Many offers valuable lessons for contemporary challenges in affordable housing advocacy and welfare politics.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Undesirable Many?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity
Where can I read a sample of The Undesirable Many?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469689678
How long is The Undesirable Many and how many pages does it have?
The Undesirable Many has 324 page(s)
Is The Undesirable Many part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Justice, Power, and Politics
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Undesirable Many?
Rosemary Ndubuizu
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Undesirable Many is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469689678) and paperback(ISBN 9781469689685) and ebook(ISBN 9781469689692) and pdf(ISBN 9781469689708)
Where can I buy The Undesirable Many online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Undesirable Many from below
Where can I buy The Undesirable Many?