A historically Black Neighborhood has been in Swarthmore for more than a century, but now its identity and history are being erased as gentrification prices out longtime residents, writes Zane Irwin for WHYY.

Houses in the three-by-two block area that was home to Swarthmore’s only majority-Black neighborhood are mostly owned by whites these days, with homes going for half a million dollars or more.

Community leaders are working to preserve the memories and experiences of those who lived there.

Dozens of Swarthmore residents gathered last Saturday to listen to a podcast about Wesley AME Church, the neighborhood’s focal point.  

Podcast creator Jeanine Osayande began recording elder stories in 2010 when she saw the demographics shifting in the community.

“There’s soon going to be this loss… of [the] voices, the memories, the stories, the contributions of the Black community,” Osayande said.

Swarthmore has directed $10,000 to create a walking history tour of the neighborhood and is looking at creating more affordable housing.

But Swarthmore Mayor Marty Spiegel said it’s hard for Swarthmore’s 6,000 residents to buck the national market trends driving up home values.

“I’m not sure that we are going to be able to legislate that out of existence,” he said.

Find out more about this special Historical Black Neighborhood in Swarthmore at WHYY.