Generational Differences Among Blacks in the North

A generational classification is virtually a standard procedure for research on European and Asian migrants and their descendants in the United States. An analogous distinction is rarely applied to the southern- and northern-born components of the black population living in the North. Analysis of educational attainment among northern black residents indicates the existence of substantial differences between these two generations with respect to this important characteristic. Likewise, decomposition of the effect of population increase on changes in urban racial segregation indicates that growth in the northern- and southern-born generations has opposite consequences. Therefore, changes in the southern-born proportion among the black population of the North may greatly distort inferences about the causes of long-term shifts in the conditions of blacks living in that region. There are certain implicit theoretical assumptions made when generation is overlooked in research on blacks or any other racial or ethnic group. Although these assumptions may be valid in some contact settings--particularly for later generations--their validity can usually be resolved through empirical research.