Rising Seas and Opa-Locka

Opa-Locka is a predominantly Black/African American community in South Florida.  The Union of Concerned Scientists recently released a report, “Surviving and Thriving in the Face of Rising Seas,” naming the city more vulnerable to the effects of rising sea levels, because of the community's socioeconomic status.  Residents struggle financially, with a median household income just above $20,000, compared to the national median, $53,046.  

This exhibit recreates the history of Opa-Locka and Greater Miami.  To understand the present, we must uncover the past.  Why are residents in Opa-Locka financially struggling today? How does this make them more vulnerable to rising seas in the future?