Whist the discussion on the results of 2011 census rages, the headlines seem to be more emotive than based on rigorous analysis of the figures and its implications. There is certainly a need for more information on the Black Caribbean population, especially in the places that they are usually associated with in order for a more informed discussion to take place. Places such as Lambeth need more critical analysis.
Between 1991 and 2001, the percentage of the Black Caribbean population increased from 1.05% to 1.14% in England. In London it increased from 4.36% to 4.79%, and in Outer London, it increased from 2.71% to 3.49%. However between 2001 and 2011, the percentage of the Black Caribbean population has decreased in all these areas. It is down to 1.11% in England, down to 4.22% in London and down to 3.45% in Outer London.
Outer London boroughs such as Ealing, Harrow, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Brent have seen decreases in the percentage of Black Caribbean population. Every Inner London borough has seen a decrease in the percentage of the Black Caribbean population.
All this is not surprising since the Black population over the past decade has been static growing by only 0.30% in England overall. Most London boroughs registered negative growth rates! even places such as Lambeth that in 1991 was the borough with the highest percentage of Black Caribbean people has registered a negative growth rate of -10.78%.
Are we witnessing the Black Flight playing out in England like it did in America over the past two decades that saw a large number of African Caribbean families move out of inner city areas into affluent suburbs with the increasing gentrification of their usual spaces. Is there Black Caribbean flight out of Inner London to the Outer London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Bromley, and Croydon that saw the only increases in the percentage of Black Caribbean population.
The Ade Sawyerr Blog 