The Urban Renewal that occurred in 1970s Philadelphia for the University City expansion led to the displacement of many Black families from their homes, a transformation that altered the city forever, reports the Secret History.

Even then, some posed the question of whether what was happening was Urban Renewal or Black removal?

Around 50,000 people, primarily Black, have been moved, uprooted, and displaced. Families and friends had been broken up and neighborhoods, which were once lived in, turned into ghost towns.

A survey by the University of Pennsylvania found that 20 percent of displaced families were not contacted by Urban Renewal or the University except when serving an eviction notice. They did not receive moving expenses to which they were entitled to by law.

Another 30 percent received moving expenses, but did not receive any help in relocation or financing to which they were also entitled. Thirty percent of people were seen or interviewed by Urban Renewal officials but were not relocated by the city and had to relocate on their own.

“The life is just being drained out by eminent domain, by urban renewal,” said Edward Sims at the time.

Watch the entire segment highlighting the impact of urban renewal at Secret History.

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