It's a tough issue. Four years ago, we bought a house in the what was the historically black neighborhood of my town. I'm white, and my wife is Chinese. Since we've moved in, three of our black neighbors have moved out, replaced by whites, and one Asian. I moved into the neighborhood because it had a great location and it was affordable. It also seemed diverse, which was a plus to us. Unfortunately, no matter the effort I make to respect the existing character and culture of the neighborhood, I am dilution. Each time a house goes up for sale, my wife and hope that the new people aren't white. Most often, they are. I grew up in a very white suburb. In my early twenties I lived in a racially diverse neighborhood in Cambridge, and learned that I greatly preferred it. I don't want to be the racial majority in my neighborhood, but my very presence makes other white people feel more comfortable about moving in.

That said, I don't think we have the right to the cultural/racial integrity of our neighborhood. If Spike Lee was white, he wouldn't publicly lament the consequences of his neighborhood turning black.