Beyond a Zero-Sum Game: Racial Dynamics between Resettled Refugees and African Americans in Two Urban Neighborhoods

Background and Purpose: Many recently arrived refugees in the United States resettle in the low-income neighborhoods that are predominantly U.S.-born Black communities. While the two communities often share similar neighborhood boundaries and environments, the intergroup relationship is not well understood. The research team aimed to understand how refugees and non-refugee Black locals perceive one another in these neighborhoods, how they view race and racial dynamics in the U.S., and whether they have any suggestions for strengthening the relationships across diverse racial and cultural groups.

Methods: This study used mixed methods of census data analysis and in-depth interviews in two sites, Albany, New York and Clarkston, Georgia, during Spring 2020. Census data was analyzed at a census tract level to understand how the racial composition has changed over the past 20 years in the neighborhoods in which refugees have actively resettled. In-depth interviews were conducted with refugees, non-refugee Black residents, and other community members who could speak to the intergroup dynamics. Study participants were recruited using horizontal sampling. Thirty individuals were interviewed, with 57% identifying as immigrants and/or refugees, and 37% self-identifying as Black or belonging to ethnic minorities. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic approach.

Results: The census analysis confirm that refugees are exposed to racial and cultural diversity and share neighborhood boundaries with U.S.-born Black residents when resettled. The two groups shared a diverse range of racial dynamics, from apathy and lack of mutual knowledge to highly contentious situations such as bullying and workplace discrimination. Refugees commonly grappled with the complexities of racial hierarchies, often feeling relegated to the "bottom spot on the totem pole" or rendered "invisible." Navigating relationships with both Black and white communities presented another challenge. Refugees generally had better experiences with whites than Blacks, and yet they still received discrimination from both. Some felt that they had double discrimination being a person of color and an immigrant, while others felt that they received less discrimination because they were immigrant and not native-Black. The role of media and neighborhood environment also emerged as potential channels that form racial perceptions among refugees.

Implications: As insights from geographic research have shown, mere spatial proximity does not guarantee meaningful interaction among individuals. Without deliberate efforts to foster connection, people may experience mistrust and insecurity, which could potentially lead to incivility, discrimination, or even hate crimes. It is crucial to foster mutual understanding and respect among the newcomers and existing residents. However, addressing complex racial perceptions within and between historically minoritized groups requires careful and holistic intervention across multiple environments, including residence, work, and school, that encompass our daily lives. Future social work research and practice can focus on developing and testing intervention models that effectively address the social challenges during refugee adaptation, not only for addressing the needs of refugees as an independent goal but also for fostering harmony within existing communities.