Looking for Vibranium: Black Household Well-Being through 21st Century Migrations in the U.S.

DAVID D. TROUTT
MICHELA ZONTA
TASHANNA WALKER
JOSHUA MILLER
ANNA GRIFFITH
KATHARINE L. NELSON

September 2026

Can desires for household well-being be measured by internal migration? This two-year study looked at patterns of Black household moves since 2000 to determine whether African-American moves indicate a dramatic shift in geographic preferences, a response to hardening economic realities or something else. We found an assortment of trends to deconstruct.

The Great Migration of the 20th century defined African Americans and the quest for greater opportunity. The 21st century has witnessed a reversal of that, with Blacks becoming more suburban, leaving central cities and often returning to the South. The quick start and end to the “racial reckoning” in 2020 led us to wonder why. Is reckoning well-being? If so, can it be achieved with the self-sufficiency of a move? We explored these trends from both a quantitative and qualitative lens. We identified the top 50 “push” areas and the top 50 “pull” destinations. We created a weighted index of conditions characterizing them all. We wondered if Black movers sought not a fabled “Wakanda”, but rather places that contained Wakanda’s magical ingredient: Vibranium. And if such a thing exists, is it universal in its appeal or conditioned by the persistence of racial constraints in American society. The picture is mixed, but anchored in affordability. The journey is fascinating, depending on socioeconomic status. Old truths die hard. We invite the conversation.

Read the report below:

Looking for Vibranium: Black Household Well-Being through 21st Century Migrations in the U.S.

All inquiries or requests for information should be directed to: dtroutt@law.rutgers.edu or clime@law.rutgers.edu