Race, Real Estate, and Education is about the connection between efforts to change K-12 schools and Philadelphia’s transformation from an industrial city into one focused on tourism, higher education, and medicine. It focuses on the racial implications of the University of Pennsylvania’s use of schools to attract more affluent populations to West Philadelphia. Author Edward M. Epstein (University of Pennsylvania) will be in conversation with Prof. Linn Posey Maddox (Temple CEHD).

In his book, Edward Epstein outlines the citywide context for the plan to create “University City” in West Philadelphia. He recounts the attempts to correct the segregation, overcrowding, and authoritarian management that plagued Philadelphia’s public schools. As the West Philadelphia Corporation, the proxy for the universities and hospitals, initiated gentrification efforts, the local community resisted and protested, causing the project to fail. The effort was revived with spectacular success, however, with the launch of the well-funded Penn Alexander School in 2001.

 Race, Real Estate, and Education shows how the pursuit of urbanist ideals sometimes deepens neighborhood injustice. Epstein’s exploration of whether Philadelphia’s overall approach was beneficial or misguided presents a cautionary tale.