美国州际高速公路铺设与种族冲突——以40号州际高速公路为例

Interstate Construction and Racial Conflict: A Case Study of I-40

州际高速公路的铺设是美国交通史上破天荒的举措,其重要性和巨大影响毋庸置疑,但也产生了新的种族问题:大量非洲裔美国人社区在高速公路的修建过程中遭到了刻意破坏,加重了种族矛盾。其中,横穿田纳西州纳什维尔黑人社区的40号州际高速公路就是一个突出的案例。从40号州际公路的路线制定到黑人社区居民反对的失败,都深刻地反映了地方政府在规划路线时对黑人社区的刻意破坏与对黑人权益的漠视,折射了高速公路铺设过程中的种族不平等。公路铺设之后又便利了白人和就业机会的外迁,加剧了就业隔离和居住隔离,带来了严重的交通不公平和种族隔离问题。

The Interstate system is an unprecedented project in American transportation history. There is no doubt about its importance and great influence. However,new racial issues have come in the wake of the construction of the Interstate. Thousands of homes and communities were destroyed in the path of the new highways,especially the African American neighborhoods,which has exacerbated racial tension. Interstate-40 through North Nashville,Tennessee,is a typical case. The route planning and the failure of the black community’s resistance have profoundly reflected the deliberate destruction and the disregard of the black rights in the planning process,reflecting the inequity in the construction process. Moreover,the highway has facilitated the dispersal of white people and their employment opportunities,which intensified employment and housing segregation,and created serious transportation inequity,eventually aggravated racial segregation.