In the past decade, Fayetteville has established itself as a "black-majority city," with African Americans constituting a clear majority of the population. According to 2020 U.S. Census data, approximately 42% of the city's residents are African American, while 38% are White.
Additionally, African Americans have a higher number of registered voters. Fayetteville becomes part of a growing number of 1,262 black-majority cities, which have increased by more than 100 in the last decade. What factors are driving this significant shift in population? There are various factors to consider.
For example, Black Americans have been relocating from Northern and Western cities to smaller Southern towns, reversing the trend of the Great Migration from the 20th Century.
However, none may be as striking as the phenomenon known as white flight. While the term "white flight" specifically refers to the movement of White residents from neighborhoods that are becoming more racially diverse, it is essential to recognize that middle-class Black families are also relocating in search of better housing, schools, and amenities.
The emergence of a new Black majority is bringing about a significant change in the political landscape. Fayetteville's African American mayor, Mitch Colvin, who is seeking re-election to a fifth term and is the only member of the Council elected at-large, enjoys a solid majority Black voter base. Furthermore, a significant number of African Americans believe that the mayor's office should represent and empower Black voices within the community.
It will be interesting to see how voters respond to Colvin's re-election bid, as three African American women are challenging him for the position.
The significance of the Black vote in Fayetteville is crucial and cannot be overlooked. Winning a city-wide election will be nearly impossible without securing a majority of this voter bloc.
Younger Black voters are more likely to register as unaffiliated and are less inclined to view the Democratic party as having sole ownership of the African American community. Black youth often vote at lower rates than other young people, making them less of a reliable voting bloc. The relationship between the established Black voters and newcomers is complex.
The younger generation seeks solutions to real-world issues and is less focused on racial politics. This type of diverse thinking is likely to benefit Fayetteville City Councilman Mario Benavente as he makes his first attempt at running for mayor. Benavente is young and has concentrated on issues such as fair policing and racial equity, which resonate with a younger demographic.
With a majority of Black voters, one might question the necessity of majority-minority representative districts.
They were created over forty years ago, when the majority of Fayetteville's population was white, and the political representation reflected this demographic. Will Fayetteville consider making adjustments to allow other forms of at-large representation besides the mayor, given the changing demographics of elected officeholders?