Coalition On Race In Maplewood Releases Demographic Report And Analysis On Diversity

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race has released its 2022 Demographics Report, an attempt to ensure the area doesn't end up "resegregated" and to keep abreast of how various demographic groups are being represented in the two towns.

"Understanding the racial and ethnic makeup of our two towns helps us identify signs of resegregation and provides insights into changes in any demographic group's representation," noted a spokesperson. "An earlier demographic report supported the recent introduction of the Wealth Gap Equalizer Loan program. A community cannot stay diverse if the racial wealth gap is not addressed."

The group revealed its report in a Zoom meeting on Dec. 7, and then posted the recording on the website last week.

They analyzed data on the town's racial and ethnic makeup from past reports in 2016 and 2019, and compared those numbers with 2020 Census data to highlight trends.

"Our goal in doing the study is to share accurate information about trends in racial integration in all aspects of SOMA community life," said the group.

The 57-page report, "South Orange and Maplewood: A Current Snapshot And Changes Over Time," shows demographic shifts, and remarks on issues such as the makeup of the towns' Police Department.

In the presentation, the group said the results are positive.

“We were pleased to see both diversity and integration in our two towns increased between 2010 and 2020,” said Nancy Gagnier, executive director of the Coalition, in the presentation. “While we did see a drop in the number of Black people living here, it was not as dramatic as we expected or as we are seeing in other parts of the Northeast.”

The shift is happening in the Northeast, a Coalition member said, because of "climate, jobs, taxes, and a desire to live in smaller cities with large Black populations, less crime, and better schools."

The report says that Maplewood is made up of 30.1 Black residents, 51.3 percent white residents, 8.5 percent Hispanic residents, and 3.7 percent Asian residents.

The study also looks at those demographics for South Orange, both towns combined, Essex County, and New Jersey, and then issues scores for diversity and for integration for each place.

“Our 2022 Demographics Report shows us that segregation and re-segregation in suburban communities does not have to be the norm,” said Gagnier. “Researchers warned us that communities that experienced significant demographic change like South Orange/Maplewood did in the 1990s would become segregated over time. That didn’t happen here.”

“We must stay vigilant in tracking these markers of stable integration to ensure South Orange and Maplewood do not become vulnerable to re-segregation,” said Gagnier. “It’s the whole package. Our towns have to be integrated in every way – our housing, our schools, our businesses, our governance and our civic life – and people need to have equal access to all of the opportunities in our community.”

While Maplewood and South Orange are known for being diverse communities, members of various minority groups have raised concerns.

For instance, the school district was required to create a plan last year as part of a settlement of a lawsuit brought in 2018 by the Black Parents Workshop, charging that students of color in the district don't get the same chances to succeed as other students.

See the report and presentation here.