The Renewal of Pittsburgh's Hill District

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The history of the Hill District really began with the Great Migration. This was a massive population of African Americans, moving to the north from the Jim Crow Segregated south. The north was appealing to african americans because black codes were limited, job opportunities were heavily available and blacks had more social and political freedom. Being right above the mason-dixon line, Pittsburgh was a relatively welcoming city for these southerners who supplied the labor for mines, mills, and businesses in the steel city. Many of these migrants moved into the Hill District. After about two generations, Pittsburgh, like many northern cities in the mid-twentieth century began a process of "slum clearance" and urban redevelopment, believing it would enhance their image and prosperity. This covering the effect of urban redevelopment in the hill district. What was once a thriving and vibrant community, declined in the mid 20th century because of rampant urban blight. Promises of a "slumless future" instilled hope in Hill District residents. Instead, the Urban Redevelopment Authority reallocated 95 acres out of the Hill in the 1960s. This film, created by Soleil Nagoda and Laurel Cooper, traces the story of the hopes and promises of urban renewal efforts and the reality that followed. Please enjoy this documentary "Broken Fences, Mended Hopes: The Renewal of Pittsburgh's Hill District."
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Documentary
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