Benedict College Study to Examine Urban Sprawl's Effects on Black Residents

Black Issues in Higher Education, Sept 30, 1999

COLUMBIA, S.C.--Benedict College is conducting a study of how growth and urban sprawl affects the African American community here in Richland County in a variety of social contexts, college officials say.

The study, coordinated by Benedict's vice president for community development, Sheila Ards, will examine 10 different areas in which urban growth heavily affects the county's African American residents.

Areas of study include housing, health, schools, environmental justice, families, economic development and racial polarization. College officials say a pocket that has one of the state's highest concentrations of Black property owners is of particular concern.

Richland County Council member Kit Smith requested the study.

"An example of what I'm interested in is the apparent two-sided coin for African Americans involved in urban growth," she says. "While some areas want growth and development, in places that get it, some residents can't afford to stay there."

No money is forthcoming for the Benedict study, but Smith says she hopes grant money can be obtained from the Turner Foundation, which helped pay for a similar study in Atlanta.