Secrets Of The Hood

The statement, “well, there goes the neighborhood”, has an unspoken and well known connotation, vis-à-vis the racial make-up of living environs within a city. Candidly speaking, it was the phrase used by racists and bigots, to communicate an impending contamination and degradation of the living conditions of a community due to blacks moving into it, by the white residents currently dwelling therein. During the Civil Rights era and for some years after, it was not uncommon to hear those “watchwords” expressed between neighbors and city leaders openly and in private. In place of the welcome wagon arriving to greet the new residents, they were met with cold-shoulder pressure tactics to force an immediate change of address. But this is not the 1940’s, 50’s or 60’s. Those segregationist beliefs no longer apply, and there are multiple legal remedies available to address the practice of institutional redlining and steering. As a modern society we have come to realize the error and folly of xenophobic behavior.

The American dream is multi-faceted, with one measure of achievement being home ownership. The proprietorship of a home carries the unspoken responsibility of the homeowner to reflect the pride of that realized dream by the presentation and appearance of one’s dwelling. Those appearances echo the attitude of the occupants, and by extension, the communities of the city. A manicured lawn, crisply painted facades and friendly neighbors are the ingredients which make living the dream worthwhile. So if America is the melting pot of the world, and houses are just brick and mortar, why are neighborhoods in most cities still divided by race? Is not the Norman Rockwell portrait of living desired by all? With legal segregation no longer a factor, how does this occur?

In earlier years the voluntary estrangement was called “white flight”. Without question, some white families did move away from the areas they had lived in for years simply because blacks moved in. However, some moved due to expanding family size and others in order to make an investment in the home of their dreams. As the economy of the nation improved and more citizens, black and white, saw their financial situation improve, and the defined lines as to where one should and could live became less stark. The increases in standards of living called for new homes and communities to be built. The once sparsely populated rural areas of town became the focal point of growth in most cities, thus giving rise to suburbia. The rise in population prompted the need for necessary services, both private and government. For the sake of convenience the need for retail outlets gave birth to the all-in-one store or the mall, schools were constructed, municipalities were born and all was well in the cul-de-sac. The exodus to suburbia was enjoyed by all who sought the good life away from the hustle and bustle of fast paced city life, and desired room to stretch ones legs after a long week of drudgery on the job.

As the growth of the suburbs continued the amount of available housing in the city proper increased. The most desired areas of town became available to those of whom it was once prohibited either by race or by price. Thus, the racial make-up of neighborhoods began to shift and the governance of the residents followed suit. As the outlying areas of the city prospers, the city itself begins to falter as a result of low tax revenue and minimal to non-existent new business development. The governors of the cities are challenged to fade this contrast as the residents reminisce of days gone by.

Echoed across the country are no longer the cries of discrimination in housing in cities, but the wail of despair that the cities have lost their luster because whites took the money to the suburbs. Rather than address those grievances with substance and seek reinvestment back to the city, or engage in shared ventures with the suburbs, those elected tend to affirm their constituent’s accusations, and promise retribution against the new communities to correct the injury. So while the residents wait for the miracle their surroundings continue to decline and the once picturesque hamlet deteriorates into what is akin to a war zone. Nevertheless the politician in charge continues to pledge his commitment to fix things by offering fanciful sounding programs, all which have short term results.

The demise of a city and the ghettoization thereof, is not the result of an emotional outbreak of racism. It is the result of elected policymakers unwilling to see beyond their next election and the failure of them to make an honest appeal to their constituents concerning the maintenance of a community. It is a matter of the citizen not realizing his community’s attitude reflects his level of pride.