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Since Kensington is trending, here's some historical context from me, your favorite 7th generation poor white Kensington resident.
When we talk about the socioeconomic dynamics of Kensington, it is very important to be familiar with the tactic of pitting poor or lesser whites against Black and Brown people. This is very much the backbone of race dynamics here.
It is first important to acknowledge the Lenape, who were the original residents of the area. While the first exchanges with English settlers is said to have been relatively peaceful, Pennsylvania later outright stole the land.
Links about the Lenape in Kensington (Not nearly enough info as is warranted):
https://hiddencityphila.org/2019/08/philadelphias-forgotten-forebears-how-pennsylvania-erased-the-lenape-from-local-history/
https://whyy.org/articles/neon-monument-to-phillys-indigenous-history-glows-again-at-penn-treaty-park/ https://philadelphianeighborhoods.com/2016/05/09/bridesburg-descendant-of-lenni-lenape-tribe-strives-for-state-recognition/
https://hiddencityphila.org/2019/08/philadelphias-forgotten-forebears-how-pennsylvania-erased-the-lenape-from-local-history/
https://whyy.org/articles/neon-monument-to-phillys-indigenous-history-glows-again-at-penn-treaty-park/ https://philadelphianeighborhoods.com/2016/05/09/bridesburg-descendant-of-lenni-lenape-tribe-strives-for-state-recognition/
In the early 1800s, Kensington became the city's industrial hub. Factories set up near the river in what is now Fishtown, Port Richmond, Olde Richmond/Flat Iron/whatever you call it just don't call it Port Richmond.
Workers who settled nearby in this east-most part of Kensington were almost exclusively 'lesser' whites, like the Irish, poorer English and to certain extent Germans. Later on, the Polish and other Eastern Europeans would later join.
The more west you went (Northern Liberties), the more Anglo it got. People who lived in the western part of the area were more likely to work in smaller factories, doing more "skilled" jobs.
An over simplification is: textiles to the west, manufacturing to the east.
An over simplification is: textiles to the west, manufacturing to the east.
One of the largest factories in the eastern part of Kensington was a lead factory. It operated for over a century and if u can believe, the area still have a massive lead problem.
Here's links on that:
https://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/fellowships/projects/booming-philadelphia-neighborhoods-lead-poisoned-soil-resurfacing
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/jtlewis/index.html
Here's links on that:
https://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/fellowships/projects/booming-philadelphia-neighborhoods-lead-poisoned-soil-resurfacing
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/jtlewis/index.html
Back to the early 1800s though. (Not to oversimplify the history of the colonization of Ireland, but) Anti-Irish sentiment among the Anglo-establishment of Philadelphia was rampant and that played out most prominently in Kensington, which is where most early Irish settled.
The more Irish immigrants moved in, the more protestant workers in the area found themselves having to "compete" for work and other resources.
I know you've heard this one before. There's more variations to this song than there is to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
I know you've heard this one before. There's more variations to this song than there is to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
Irish workers used the Catholic Church as a way to campaign for better living conditions. This lead to a fear that the power of the Episcopal Church (America's version of the Church of England minus the formal government backing) was being threatened.
At the the bible was mandated in public schools. Catholics use a different bible than protestants so they asked the city to affirm their right to use their book instead of the KJV. They city said yes & this a rumor began that everyone was going to have to use the Catholic bible.
(KJV meaning King James Version)
At the same time, the nativist movement, in which white Americans who were born here ran around calling themselves 'Native Americans', differing themselves from immigrants, was flourishing.
(The country is like, not even 70 years old at this point btw).
(The country is like, not even 70 years old at this point btw).
In response to the bible rumor, Nativists targeted areas in western Kensington the Irish had begun moving into. Aside from physically assaulting people, protestants burned down Catholic churches and a local firehouse among others.
Links about the Kensington Nativist/"Bible" Riots.
https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/3206
http://www.philaplace.org/story/316/
https://exhibits.library.villanova.edu/chaos-in-the-streets-the-philadelphia-riots-of-1844
https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/3206
http://www.philaplace.org/story/316/
https://exhibits.library.villanova.edu/chaos-in-the-streets-the-philadelphia-riots-of-1844
Soon after the riots, the famine would start in Ireland (and in other countries, it was a global event, why don't we talk about that more) and even more Irish would immigrate to the area in the years to come. And like I mentioned before, other non-Anglos would follow.
Also, the riots became justification for expanding the PPD (among other things) with the Consolidation of the City in 1854. By making making everything a part of the city proper, city agencies could become larger and they could get more tax revenue.
Many nativists (Know-Nothings) later aligned themselves with the Republican Party. In contrast, many immigrants aligned themselves with Democrats.
Philadelphia had economic ties to the south (we manufactured, they provided the supplies).
Philadelphia had economic ties to the south (we manufactured, they provided the supplies).
Another aspect I think is not spoken about as much is that being able to own slaves gave non-Anglo Americans power. Even if you were the lowest of low class white person, you could still, in some jurisdictions, own another human.
Proximity to whiteness vs proximity to blackness.
Proximity to whiteness vs proximity to blackness.
Philadelphia was also home to a large number of Free Black persons. Some had a better socio-economic status than white workers. Even though they didn't live in Kensington (Philadelphia has always been and is a residentially segregated city), they were targets of frustration.
The 1863 draft act called for all citizen and immigrant males between 20 and 45 to serve in the US Army. Citizens had the options to pay $300 to buy their way out of being drafted or to provide an alternative to serve in their place.
This led to "poor men forced to fight a rich man's war" rhetoric as well as an opportunity for Republican's political rivals to weaponize poor whites class pride. How can you be in a state above Blackness if you are forced to risk your life on their behalf?
*Correction*: the draft act applied to citizens and immigrants who intended to become citizens.
Free Black Americans were eventually able to enlist in the Army, but they were never conscripted for combat roles. (They were conscripted for other work in certain areas outside PA.)
Free Black Americans were eventually able to enlist in the Army, but they were never conscripted for combat roles. (They were conscripted for other work in certain areas outside PA.)
Philadelphia becoming a Republican stronghold & its significance in the Abolition movement also allowed for propoganda that Black people coming to the city fleeing slavery or as refugees from the war were being welcomed with open arms, unlike white immigrants had been.
After the war ends, many formerly enslaved Black Americans head North. The 14th Amendment grants them citizenship as a birthright. For the short time it did, the federal government backs Reconstruction.
This is where the Irish begin to become white.
This is where the Irish begin to become white.
The Library Company of Philadelphia has a collection of political cartoons from the time if you want more insight on the contemporary attitude. https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3APOLCA
In the later half of the 1800s, European immigration increases. Kensington becomes denser.
Black migration to the city continues as well, especially as Reconstruction is destroyed. At one point Philadelphia had the largest Black American population outside the South.
Black migration to the city continues as well, especially as Reconstruction is destroyed. At one point Philadelphia had the largest Black American population outside the South.
Pre-railroads, Philadelphia tried to utilize naturally occurring streams as canals for industrial transportation. Little-no-no industrial and sanitation regulation leads to the canals (and Delaware water supply) turning into disease hot-zones.
(There is an entire thing to be said about the rich who lived near the Schuylkill getting cleaner, more protected water supply, while those who had to rely on the Delaware supply got, you know, cholera, but that's not the point right now)
The contaminated water sources were a problem all over the city, especially as the city developed more of itself & industry expanded with it. Even after railroads came in, it took decades to convert the canals into covered sewers, so those around them just had to live with them.
And naturally, the people who live in industrial zones tend to be the poorest because they can't afford (or aren't allowed [redlining] to live elsewhere).
But of course, with the new populations moving in, occurrence of disease was attributed to them directly.
But of course, with the new populations moving in, occurrence of disease was attributed to them directly.
If you can say "x is inherently filthy and physically inferior", you don't have to address failures in infrastructure, the dangers of not having environmental protections or industrial regulation, or the importance of accessible, quality healthcare.
But these new residents to city allowed the Irish in Kensington (& elsewhere) to change the line from "the Irish are filthy disease vectors" to "Black people are filthy disease vectors".
So they reduce the 'danger' label from themselves while otherwise protecting the status quo
So they reduce the 'danger' label from themselves while otherwise protecting the status quo
This is also done with Italian immigrants in South Philadelphia and Eastern European immigrants in Kensington.
Second-third generation Irish are also much more culturally similar to the Anglo-establishment than those other whites, and they start really getting into politics.
Second-third generation Irish are also much more culturally similar to the Anglo-establishment than those other whites, and they start really getting into politics.
Irish Americans increase their proximity to whiteness by putting more layers between them and blackness.
What is left of the working class English by this point have intermixed into Irish & minority German-American Kensington culture for the most part. Sheer numbers won out.
What is left of the working class English by this point have intermixed into Irish & minority German-American Kensington culture for the most part. Sheer numbers won out.
By the end of the 1800s, the hierarchy is
whites (established Irish/German/English)
the new lesser whites (Eastern Europeans and fresh off the boat whites mentioned above).
All of these people are working class. People who could afford it moved somewhere with less disease.
whites (established Irish/German/English)
the new lesser whites (Eastern Europeans and fresh off the boat whites mentioned above).
All of these people are working class. People who could afford it moved somewhere with less disease.
Sidenote: W.E.B DuBois concluded in his 1899 study 'The Philadelphia Negro' that Black Philadelphians suffered such high rates of disease because they weren't educated on proper hygiene.
Dr. Rebecca Cole, a Black Philadelphian doctor who served the population, refuted this.
Dr. Rebecca Cole, a Black Philadelphian doctor who served the population, refuted this.
Dr. Cole challenged the integrity of his data, accusing him of not accounting for the poor quality care given to Black patients by white doctors and the conditions landlords (and redlining) forced them to live in.
Link for that: https://hekint.org/2019/06/21/dr-rebecca-cole-and-racial-health-disparities-in-nineteenth-century-philadelphia/
Link for that: https://hekint.org/2019/06/21/dr-rebecca-cole-and-racial-health-disparities-in-nineteenth-century-philadelphia/
*shows back up 11 days later at 2am*
Okay, where was I?
Okay, where was I?
World War I (late 1910s) leads to an even higher demand for workers in Northern industrial centers and a spike in African-American migration.
The 1900 census counts about 63,000 Black residents in Philadelphia. In the 1920 census, that number was just over 130,000.
The 1900 census counts about 63,000 Black residents in Philadelphia. In the 1920 census, that number was just over 130,000.
Side note: We generally jump from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement when learning about African-American history but it is crucial for non-Black Americans to understand the brutality that was the Jim Crow era.
And I don't just mean the anti-Black terrorism (though we do often fail to understand the scope of it) and legal oppression (on every level) that occurred in the South (it manifested in different ways everywhere in the United States (and outside the United States)).
These newcomers (which also included Black immigrants from the Caribbean in much smaller numbers) also faced prejudice within an intraracial class hierarchy.
The vast majority were sharecroppers or otherwise agricultural workers from rural areas among the Southeastern coast.
The vast majority were sharecroppers or otherwise agricultural workers from rural areas among the Southeastern coast.
Many established Black Philadelphians viewed Black Southerners as inferior.
Here's an piece that dives into that in more detail https://tinamoore.atavist.com/oldphiladelphiansandsouthernnewcomers
Here's an piece that dives into that in more detail https://tinamoore.atavist.com/oldphiladelphiansandsouthernnewcomers
