Gentrification shaming makes no sense to me.

[Anonymous]

I recently bought a place in Columbia Heights and multiple liberal friends of mine have called me a gentrifier.

I don’t understand why buying the best house we could afford is somehow unethical. Should we look at white only neighborhoods? I mean, truly, what are people proposing? Even if we wanted to self segregate (we don’t), we couldn’t afford those super white parts of DC.

I truly don’t understand... what are these anti gentrification people suggesting homebuyers do? By the way, it is ONLY our White friends who care. None of our POC friends have said anything negative at all.

[Anonymous]

White guilt to the nth power. There are genuine issues in respect to housing shortages for low income people who in DC are predominantly black.

[Anonymous]

First off, if you bought a place in Columbia Heights in 2020, you aren't exactly on the leading edge of gentrification.

But more importantly, you're right. What do your friends say when you make these points to them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently bought a place in Columbia Heights and multiple liberal friends of mine have called me a gentrifier.

I don’t understand why buying the best house we could afford is somehow unethical. Should we look at white only neighborhoods? I mean, truly, what are people proposing? Even if we wanted to self segregate (we don’t), we couldn’t afford those super white parts of DC.

I truly don’t understand... what are these anti gentrification people suggesting homebuyers do? By the way, it is ONLY our White friends who care. None of our POC friends have said anything negative at all.

I mean, you are a gentrifier. Whether you choose to feel badly about it is up to you and not your friends.

[Anonymous]

There is no winning in the court of public opinion. These same people would shame you if you moved to the suburbs & didn't keep your kids in DC public schools. Make your own choices, that you believe are ethical, & don't mind the noise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently bought a place in Columbia Heights and multiple liberal friends of mine have called me a gentrifier.

I don’t understand why buying the best house we could afford is somehow unethical. Should we look at white only neighborhoods? I mean, truly, what are people proposing? Even if we wanted to self segregate (we don’t), we couldn’t afford those super white parts of DC.

I truly don’t understand... what are these anti gentrification people suggesting homebuyers do? By the way, it is ONLY our White friends who care. None of our POC friends have said anything negative at all.

clearly you're supposed to find a black family, apologize for the sins of your forefathers and deed them your house

[Anonymous]

I think you're just supposed to be aware of gentrification and not be a dick about it. So like, don't call in your elderly neighbors for code violations. If you get involved at your school, don't focus exclusively on advocating for special programs. That sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First off, if you bought a place in Columbia Heights in 2020, you aren't exactly on the leading edge of gentrification.

But more importantly, you're right. What do your friends say when you make these points to them?

Yes, totally, we are hardly at the bleeding edge of gentrification. But even if we bought somewhere, say, East of the River, I still wouldn’t see an issue with it. I understand the issue when new people move in and start calling the cops on all their neighbors and don’t care to meet them, but we of course won’t do any of that. We’re looking forward to getting to know all our neighbors.

One friend suggested I should have moved to a rural white community that I could afford, and then I wouldn’t be displacing anyone. Another friend paid twice what I did (with help of course) to limit herself to WOTP neighborhoods, which apparently is somehow more ethical. Baffling.

[Anonymous]

We bought on Capitol Hill in 2003. I felt the same way. No neighborhood is static. We bought the nicest house we could afford ( and it needed a ton of work that we spent 10 years doing to bring it back from decades of neglect).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First off, if you bought a place in Columbia Heights in 2020, you aren't exactly on the leading edge of gentrification.

But more importantly, you're right. What do your friends say when you make these points to them?

Yes, totally, we are hardly at the bleeding edge of gentrification. But even if we bought somewhere, say, East of the River, I still wouldn’t see an issue with it. I understand the issue when new people move in and start calling the cops on all their neighbors and don’t care to meet them, but we of course won’t do any of that. We’re looking forward to getting to know all our neighbors.

One friend suggested I should have moved to a rural white community that I could afford, and then I wouldn’t be displacing anyone. Another friend paid twice what I did (with help of course) to limit herself to WOTP neighborhoods, which apparently is somehow more ethical. Baffling.

Okay, OP is a troll. These conversations didn't happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First off, if you bought a place in Columbia Heights in 2020, you aren't exactly on the leading edge of gentrification.

But more importantly, you're right. What do your friends say when you make these points to them?

Yes, totally, we are hardly at the bleeding edge of gentrification. But even if we bought somewhere, say, East of the River, I still wouldn’t see an issue with it. I understand the issue when new people move in and start calling the cops on all their neighbors and don’t care to meet them, but we of course won’t do any of that. We’re looking forward to getting to know all our neighbors.

One friend suggested I should have moved to a rural white community that I could afford, and then I wouldn’t be displacing anyone. Another friend paid twice what I did (with help of course) to limit herself to WOTP neighborhoods, which apparently is somehow more ethical. Baffling.

I think people like this may just be seeing your choice as a judgment on their own housing choices (i.e., decision to buy in a white, affluent neighborhood far removed from issues in other parts of the city). Might say more about them than you if they're outright calling you a gentrifier.

[Anonymous]

You are not a gentrifier. I was a gentrifier when I bought there back in 2001 when there were just empty lots and no one out walking past dark. Our house was the most anyone had paid for a house in our block by about $100,000 - but it was beautiful. Our neighbors complained when we all went to protest the Giant being built so big with no green space - that's how I found out. But, then I gave everyone a ride back home and had cognac on our front porches. I loved that neighborhood. Felt like a true community. If you want to do some good to ease your soul - send your kids to Tubman and help turn that school around! Vote for politicians who want affordable housing. Don't try to shut down the public housing around 13th and Columbia. Support vocational efforts at Cardoza and the Marion Barry summer job program. And don't complain about crap. Finally, say hello!

[Anonymous]

TROLL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First off, if you bought a place in Columbia Heights in 2020, you aren't exactly on the leading edge of gentrification.

But more importantly, you're right. What do your friends say when you make these points to them?

Yes, totally, we are hardly at the bleeding edge of gentrification. But even if we bought somewhere, say, East of the River, I still wouldn’t see an issue with it. I understand the issue when new people move in and start calling the cops on all their neighbors and don’t care to meet them, but we of course won’t do any of that. We’re looking forward to getting to know all our neighbors.

One friend suggested I should have moved to a rural white community that I could afford, and then I wouldn’t be displacing anyone. Another friend paid twice what I did (with help of course) to limit herself to WOTP neighborhoods, which apparently is somehow more ethical. Baffling.

Your friends are quite rude to be saying this crap to you. But I guess it's better than saying it behind your back? You need new friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no winning in the court of public opinion. These same people would shame you if you moved to the suburbs & didn't keep your kids in DC public schools. Make your own choices, that you believe are ethical, & don't mind the noise.

Yeah, its almost like the problem is structural (residential segregation and schools, racial wealth gaps, etc) and not based on OP's individual choices. There is no way to be a "good white person" here because white people benefit from racism on a systemic level. Our choices are not made in a vacuum.

OP, tell your friends if they are truly concerned, you hope they are organizing in favor of reparations and the divorce of school funding from local taxes, or something like that.