There is a continuing debate over whether or not Whites move out of neighborhoods simply because Blacks are moving in, and, if so, what effects this has on neighborhood racial transition. Molotch (1972) argues that White flight plays little if any role in the transition process. Others, such as Damerell (1968) and Mayer (1960), indicate that it may play a significant role. Data from the 1976 Detroit Area Study are used to investigate the relationship between neighborhood racial composition and White intention to move. The results of a logit analysis, in which the effects of age, tenure status, family income, and length of residence are controlled for, support the argument that White flight is produced by neighborhood racial integration. The possible effects of White flight on the racial transition process are then discussed.
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