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Recognizing “Black Bottom” as the first and official name of the neighborhood in West Philadelphia bounded by 32nd Street to the east, 40th Street to the west, University Avenue to the south, and Lancaster Avenue to the north; ensuring that future communication or action on the part of the City of Philadelphia acknowledge this community’s importance to our City.
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WHEREAS, Black settlement in this section of West Philadelphia predates the Civil War and the growth of academic institutions in the same area; and
WHEREAS, This area’s Black population grew with the Great Migration, and by the mid-twentieth century, it had emerged as one of three major Black districts in the City with a thriving cultural heart of theaters and clubs that catered to Black Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, All of this was lost in the 1960s when the City of Philadelphia and the Redevelopment Authority used federal Urban Renewal funds to acquire and demolish homes on behalf of the West Philadelphia Corporation, an entity controlled by the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and other local colleges and hospitals; and
WHEREAS, What replaced this vibrant community was institutional in nature and renamed “University City,” while the up to 10,000 predominantly African American residents were scattered to other parts of the city; one of many communities nationwide displaced by the physical and cultural erasure of Urban Renewal (since known to many as “Negro Removal”) and left out of the prosperity that the new development created; and
WHEREAS, Displacement has not destroyed the Black Bottom’s sense of community. Every year since 1974, Black Bottom community members and descendants have gathered for a reunion, one of the longest running events of its kind; and
WHEREAS, The resilience of the Black Bottom community has become a model for resistance and anti-displacement efforts around Philadelphia, and the PA Historical and Museum Commission has approved the installation of a historical marker at 36th and Market Streets in recognition of this citywide impact; and
WHEREAS, The perseverance of Black Bottom elders and descendants remind us how top-down planning undermines equity, and that we must be intentional to correct past harms and create an inclusive future; their efforts deserve recognition and the opportunity to return home; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes “Black Bottom” as the first and official name of the neighborhood in West Philadelphia bounded by 32nd Street to the east, 40th Street to the west, University Avenue to the south, and Lancaster Avenue to the north; ensuring that future communication or action on the part of the City of Philadelphia acknowledge this community’s importance to our City.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to elder leaders of the Black Bottom community as a symbol of Council’s gratitude and appreciation for their impact.
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