Racial Residential Segregation and Racial Meaning in South Shore

Utilizing both quantitative data, and qualitative data from in-depth qualitative interviews, this Master's thesis examines how living through and observing the experience of racial residential transition and racial residential segregation in Chicago's South Shore Community Area influences the manner in which respondents view members of other racial groups who have, and currently do, reside in South Shore. Much attention is paid to methodological issues, including both the value of qualitative interviews and how they differ from quantitative surveys, as well the proper manner in which to interpret the results of qualitative interviews. The thesis concludes with a discussion of how the racial meaning of respondents' discursive story telling about South Shore and its residents are properly understood to indicate a convergence of responsibility and racial meaning.