Episode 15: The Real Estate Page As Colonial Dispatch

In this episode of Citations Needed, Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson discuss the use of colonial language in real estate journalism, arguing that terms like "urban pioneer" and "new frontier" reinforce racist and white supremacist attitudes by erasing the history and contributions of people of color in gentrifying neighborhoods. They explore how real estate sections, driven by advertising revenue from wealthy interests, often present a biased view of gentrification, ignoring the displacement and exploitation of existing communities. The hosts interview Aaron Cantu, who expands on these ideas, discussing how the media whitewashes gentrification and perpetuates the "white savior complex," obscuring the structural inequalities that lead to the displacement of marginalized communities.