Parkway Village: How a UN Housing Development Challenged Segregation in Post-War America

In the aftermath of World War II, as the United Nations sought a permanent home in New York City, a unique housing development emerged in Queens that quietly challenged the deeply entrenched racial segregation of the era. Parkway Village, built in 1947 to accommodate UN staff, became the city’s first racially integrated housing estate, offering a haven for international families and a beacon of progress during a time of widespread discrimination.

Confronting Segregation in Post-War New York

The immediate post-war period presented New York City with a severe housing crisis, exacerbated by the return of 900,000 American servicemen. “New York seemed to be 150,000 to 250,000 apartment units short of the housing needs that were required at the time and yet there were thousands of diplomats getting ready to make their home in New York City,” New York historian Chris McNickle told UN News. However, the UN’s insistence on non-discriminatory housing for its staff presented a significant hurdle. Many existing New York developments, such as Stuy-Town and Fresh Meadows, practiced racial segregation.

A Solution in Queens

Parkway Village, a 34-acre plot of land in Queens, was identified as the solution. Constructed from scratch in 1947, it comprised 687 apartments arranged in small groups across the property. Residents described it as the “country in the city,” fostering a strong sense of community. With buildings covering only 15 percent of the space and a UN school and nursery on site until the early 1980s, the Village cultivated a culturally open atmosphere, with residents initially forgoing fences between their homes according to current resident Judith Guttman.

A Haven for Diversity and Cooperation

Parkway Village quickly became a melting pot of cultures, housing staff members from over 50 countries. Early resident and later UN staff member Carlos Figueroa, now an Associate Professor of Politics at Ithaca College , recalled friendships with children from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This diverse environment allowed children to experience different cuisines, learn about various cultures, and pick up snippets of new languages.

The integrated setting fostered an atmosphere of understanding, even among groups with historical rivalries. Figueroa noted, “It was enlightening to observe kids from countries and cultures which are traditional rivals – Indians and Pakistanis, Arabs and Jews, for example – playing together, attending the same schools and, if not learning to love and trust one another, at least finding a way to get along in an atmosphere of cooperation and understanding.”

A Symbol of UN Principles

Parkway Village too provided a home for prominent figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ralph Bunche, the first Black person to win the award for his mediation efforts in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Rula Hinedi, head of the UN tour guides, emphasized that the development embodied the UN’s commitment to eliminating racial discrimination worldwide .

The Ongoing Struggle for Racial Equality

While Parkway Village stands as a historical success in challenging segregation, the fight for racial equality continues. Speaking in advance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21st), UN independent human rights expert Dr. Ashwini K.P. Acknowledged progress over the past 80 years, noting a global consensus that racial discrimination is unacceptable. However, she also cautioned that racism persists in various forms, impacting access to education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and political power . “Ending racial discrimination requires sustained political will, measurable accountability and a commitment to equality that is lived and not merely declared,” she stated.