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The Plan (Washington, D.C.)

January 01, 1970

The Plan is a conspiracy theory in Washington, D.C., which posits that since the enactment of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in 1973, white people have had a "plan to take back" the black-majority city and the offices of the local government.[1][2] The theory asserts that the decline of low-income black residents and their replacement by wealthier whites from outside of Washington, D.C., is intentional through the calculated use of gentrification and urban renewal.[3]

While most within Washington, D.C., regard the Plan as false, it is true that the black population has fallen by about 25 percentage points, and the white population grown by about the same, in the period since the Home Rule Act was enacted.[4][5] As of the 2020 census, black residents are no longer a majority in the district, but remain a plurality.

History edit

Lillian Wiggins, a columnist for the Washington Afro American newspaper, was the first to formally describe the conspiracy theory, writing in 1979 that "Many residents believe that the Marion Barry era may be the last time Washington will have a black mayor. If negative programming and characterization of black leadership are allowed to continue in the city of Washington and especially the black community, there is a strong possibility of the 'master plan' which I have so often spoken about maturing in the 1980s." Some note that the Federal City Council, an organized group of civic and corporate leaders, mostly white, meets in secret and uses its power to influence the city's direction.[1] The theory particularly gained sway in the 1980s and early 1990s, as the city became increasingly unaffordable to low-income minorities. Urban renewal was also seen as intended to push out minority populations.[6]

Anti-theorists note that instead of an organized conspiracy, there are market forces, demographics, and gentrification—which is happening quickly in the District of Columbia—at work. Black residents have left the District, similar to how many white residents moved to the suburbs, beginning in the 1950s. However, though white flight has often been attributed to the desire to leave a decaying urban core, black flight has been related to displacement and unaffordable living costs.[7] The existence of the theory reflects "the fears of a black community that already feels under attack in a city whose rising cost of living makes hanging on difficult...if such paranoia seems laughable, it reflects a reality that's easily illustrated in bright colors".[8]

21st Century edit

Census figures show that between 2000 and 2010, the District lost about 39,000 black residents while over 50,000 whites moved in. The black population declined by 11.1%, while the white population saw a 31.4% increase.[9][10] "The District, once 'Chocolate City', is becoming, as the saying goes, 'Vanilla Village'."[11] As of 2010, the city was about 51% black and 39% white[9]—compared to 61%–34% in 2000. The black population peaked in 1970 at 71%. If trends continue, the city would get a white majority any time from 2014 to 2020.[12] This has been attributed to The Plan.[13] In 2013, the black population of Washington D.C. dropped below 50% to 49.5%.[14]

Efforts to improve the District of Columbia Public Schools have been linked to the purported conspiracy, as the improvements have tended to increase enrollment of white children. Although shifting demographics are broadening school demand, these are seen as either the effectuation or the result of The Plan.[11] Similarly, rising real estate values, increased business, more abundant night life and other factors which "would otherwise be viewed as a positive becomes evidence" of the scheme, even to those who benefit from the improvements.[15] Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy wrote, "Don't ask [Mayor] Fenty or [Schools Chancellor] Rhee whom this world-class school system will serve if low-income black residents are being evicted from his world-class city in droves"; "The scheme was odious: re-create a more sophisticated version of the plantation-style, federally appointed three-member commission that ruled the city for more than a century until 1967."[16]

The Plan, and related theories, are said to have contributed to the defeat of incumbent mayor Adrian Fenty in the 2010 primary election.[1][17][16] One observer noted: "A vote for [challenger Vincent] Gray, admirers of the D.C. Council chairman imply, stops The Plan dead, putting all those whiny newcomers in their place."[17] Sharon Pratt Kelly, who was mayor before Fenty, does not believe The Plan is real. She sees no malicious intent, but does allow for "a reckless disregard for a great many people" among the "power elite" in the city.[18]

In Dax-Devlon Ross's 2021 book Letters to My White Male Friends, Ross addresses the myth without agreeing with or denying it. However, he expresses the need for white people to treat the theory seriously, describing the anger black people and people of color experience with the cycle of gentrification, as well as America's history of forced displacement policies. These policies enabled white people to seize lands, claims Ross, and were integral to the country's creation. This includes the government's seizure of lands and simultaneous expulsion of Native Americans across what is now the U.S., the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Polynesian territories used for nuclear testing, and Greenwood, Oklahoma.[19]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Harry Jaffe, So-called "plan" for white supremacy lives on in D.C., Washington Examiner, August 30, 2010.
  2. ^ Jeffrey R. Henig and Wilbur C. Rich, Mayors in the middle: politics, race, and mayoral control of urban schools. Princeton University Press, 2004, pp. 204–207.
  3. ^ "Skeptoid: The Plan to Retake Washington".
  4. ^ . U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "QuickFacts: District of Columbia". U.S. Census Bureau. July 1, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Mikaela Lefrak, "Conspiracy theories: Bad for democracy but good for a politician turned novelist", Washington Post Magazine, Feb. 10, 2019, pp. 4-6.
  7. ^ Isabelle Anguelovski, "[1]", BCNUEJ, Sept. 22, 2019
  8. ^ Rend Smith, Pretty Map Answers Ugly Question, Washington CityPaper, Sep. 21, 2010, 6:06 pm.
  9. ^ a b U.S. Census, "DC" 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine 2010 Census Results: District of Columbia.
  10. ^ Carol Morello and Dan Keating, Number of black D.C. residents plummets as majority status slips away, The Washington Post, March 24, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Jonetta Rose Barras, Recruiting Diversity: Michelle Rhee's campaign to diversify DCPS means wooing white parents. Washington CityPaper, August 27, 2010.
  12. ^ Erika Niedowski, D.C. Is Continuing to Whiten, WashingtonCityPaper, Jan. 7, 2010.
  13. ^ E.g., Comrade Al Gonzales, Comment #10 to D.C. Is Continuing to Whiten, January 8, 2010, at 4:05 pm. Accessed 2010.09.23: "'The Plan' is working. White people are pushing black people out of the District - that's 'The Plan'".
  14. ^ US Census: "State & County QuickFacts - District of Columbia" 2011-08-20 at the Wayback Machine retrieved January 27, 2015
  15. ^ William Raspberry, "Toward 2028" The Washington Post, February 1, 1998.
  16. ^ a b Courtland Milloy, "D.C. election didn't just unseat abrasive Mayor Fenty. It was a populist revolt." The Washington Post, September 16, 2010.
  17. ^ a b Editorial, Adrian Fenty: The Jerk D.C. Needs, Washington CityPaper, September 10, 2010.
  18. ^ Ruben Casteneda, "What's The Plan?" Washington City Paper, March 6, 2020, p. 10.
  19. ^ Ross, Dax-Devlon (2021-06-15). Letters to My White Male Friends. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-250-27684-1.

Further reading edit

  • Keith B. Richburg, Out of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa, BasicBooks, New York, 1997, especially pp. 144–148.

January 01, 1970
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The Plan is a conspiracy theory in Washington D C which posits that since the enactment of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in 1973 white people have had a plan to take back the black majority city and the offices of the local government 1 2 The theory asserts that the decline of low income black residents and their replacement by wealthier whites from outside of Washington D C is intentional through the calculated use of gentrification and urban renewal 3 While most within Washington D C regard the Plan as false it is true that the black population has fallen by about 25 percentage points and the white population grown by about the same in the period since the Home Rule Act was enacted 4 5 As of the 2020 census black residents are no longer a majority in the district but remain a plurality Contents 1 History 2 21st Century 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingHistory editLillian Wiggins a columnist for the Washington Afro American newspaper was the first to formally describe the conspiracy theory writing in 1979 that Many residents believe that the Marion Barry era may be the last time Washington will have a black mayor If negative programming and characterization of black leadership are allowed to continue in the city of Washington and especially the black community there is a strong possibility of the master plan which I have so often spoken about maturing in the 1980s Some note that the Federal City Council an organized group of civic and corporate leaders mostly white meets in secret and uses its power to influence the city s direction 1 The theory particularly gained sway in the 1980s and early 1990s as the city became increasingly unaffordable to low income minorities Urban renewal was also seen as intended to push out minority populations 6 Anti theorists note that instead of an organized conspiracy there are market forces demographics and gentrification which is happening quickly in the District of Columbia at work Black residents have left the District similar to how many white residents moved to the suburbs beginning in the 1950s However though white flight has often been attributed to the desire to leave a decaying urban core black flight has been related to displacement and unaffordable living costs 7 The existence of the theory reflects the fears of a black community that already feels under attack in a city whose rising cost of living makes hanging on difficult if such paranoia seems laughable it reflects a reality that s easily illustrated in bright colors 8 21st Century editCensus figures show that between 2000 and 2010 the District lost about 39 000 black residents while over 50 000 whites moved in The black population declined by 11 1 while the white population saw a 31 4 increase 9 10 The District once Chocolate City is becoming as the saying goes Vanilla Village 11 As of 2010 the city was about 51 black and 39 white 9 compared to 61 34 in 2000 The black population peaked in 1970 at 71 If trends continue the city would get a white majority any time from 2014 to 2020 12 This has been attributed to The Plan 13 In 2013 the black population of Washington D C dropped below 50 to 49 5 14 Efforts to improve the District of Columbia Public Schools have been linked to the purported conspiracy as the improvements have tended to increase enrollment of white children Although shifting demographics are broadening school demand these are seen as either the effectuation or the result of The Plan 11 Similarly rising real estate values increased business more abundant night life and other factors which would otherwise be viewed as a positive becomes evidence of the scheme even to those who benefit from the improvements 15 Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy wrote Don t ask Mayor Fenty or Schools Chancellor Rhee whom this world class school system will serve if low income black residents are being evicted from his world class city in droves The scheme was odious re create a more sophisticated version of the plantation style federally appointed three member commission that ruled the city for more than a century until 1967 16 The Plan and related theories are said to have contributed to the defeat of incumbent mayor Adrian Fenty in the 2010 primary election 1 17 16 One observer noted A vote for challenger Vincent Gray admirers of the D C Council chairman imply stops The Plan dead putting all those whiny newcomers in their place 17 Sharon Pratt Kelly who was mayor before Fenty does not believe The Plan is real She sees no malicious intent but does allow for a reckless disregard for a great many people among the power elite in the city 18 In Dax Devlon Ross s 2021 book Letters to My White Male Friends Ross addresses the myth without agreeing with or denying it However he expresses the need for white people to treat the theory seriously describing the anger black people and people of color experience with the cycle of gentrification as well as America s history of forced displacement policies These policies enabled white people to seize lands claims Ross and were integral to the country s creation This includes the government s seizure of lands and simultaneous expulsion of Native Americans across what is now the U S the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom Polynesian territories used for nuclear testing and Greenwood Oklahoma 19 See also editInstitutional racism Demographics of Washington D C History of Washington D C Forced displacement List of African American historic places in the District of ColumbiaReferences edit a b c Harry Jaffe So called plan for white supremacy lives on in D C Washington Examiner August 30 2010 Jeffrey R Henig and Wilbur C Rich Mayors in the middle politics race and mayoral control of urban schools Princeton University Press 2004 pp 204 207 Skeptoid The Plan to Retake Washington District of Columbia Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places Earliest Census to 1990 U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on August 12 2012 Retrieved April 21 2012 QuickFacts District of Columbia U S Census Bureau July 1 2017 Retrieved October 11 2018 Mikaela Lefrak Conspiracy theories Bad for democracy but good for a politician turned novelist Washington Post Magazine Feb 10 2019 pp 4 6 Isabelle Anguelovski 1 BCNUEJ Sept 22 2019 Rend Smith Pretty Map Answers Ugly Question Washington CityPaper Sep 21 2010 6 06 pm a b U S Census DC Archived 2012 03 16 at the Wayback Machine 2010 Census Results District of Columbia Carol Morello and Dan Keating Number of black D C residents plummets as majority status slips away The Washington Post March 24 2011 a b Jonetta Rose Barras Recruiting Diversity Michelle Rhee s campaign to diversify DCPS means wooing white parents Washington CityPaper August 27 2010 Erika Niedowski D C Is Continuing to Whiten WashingtonCityPaper Jan 7 2010 E g Comrade Al Gonzales Comment 10 to D C Is Continuing to Whiten January 8 2010 at 4 05 pm Accessed 2010 09 23 The Plan is working White people are pushing black people out of the District that s The Plan US Census State amp County QuickFacts District of Columbia Archived 2011 08 20 at the Wayback Machine retrieved January 27 2015 William Raspberry Toward 2028 The Washington Post February 1 1998 a b Courtland Milloy D C election didn t just unseat abrasive Mayor Fenty It was a populist revolt The Washington Post September 16 2010 a b Editorial Adrian Fenty The Jerk D C Needs Washington CityPaper September 10 2010 Ruben Casteneda What s The Plan Washington City Paper March 6 2020 p 10 Ross Dax Devlon 2021 06 15 Letters to My White Male Friends St Martin s Publishing Group ISBN 978 1 250 27684 1 Further reading editKeith B Richburg Out of America A Black Man Confronts Africa BasicBooks New York 1997 especially pp 144 148 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Plan Washington D C amp oldid 1221966714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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