Quote:
Originally posted by lovelyivy84
The problem is that more and more, people do not know it when they see it- in great part because of the increase in diversity within our community. This is widening the ever-increasing gap in the haves and have nots. One of the strengths of the black community that came out of past oppression was our lack of concrete economic boundaries.
In the past, because of segregation black neighborhoods were very different. You were just as likely to have the doctor and the town ditch-digger or maid in the same neighborhood because there wasn't anyplace for them to go. Now that they can, the black professionals have moved out and that has had a great effect on the black poor. They do NOT live the life or even have any inkling of the opportunities that can be open to the black middle class (in terms of schools, scholarships and employment opportunities). The economic divide in our communities is increasing greatly because of this - that is why you get this idea that black=ghetto, or that black=bougie or whatever a given concept is.
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A wonderful article that appeared in the
LA Weekly about four years ago touched on some of the points that my Soror makes. In particular, it mentioned that the departure of middle-class blacks from South and South-Central Los Angeles has taken out social infrastructure that can't be replaced.
I believe in open housing laws. But it's still not particularly cool when neighborhoods lose families with one or two employed, tax-paying adults.
It's also good to reiterate that the economic divide is a big portion of what causes these "blackness" arguments.