From: simon@acsu.buffalo.edu (Patrice A. Simon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Blacks in Urban America
Date: 15 Aug 92 19:47:07 GMT
Distribution: all
Organization: UB


	While following the thread on which country is better for blacks, I
was tempted to reply with more BS. But this "discussion" needs to be taken
further. I'm sure that most of us know what problems exists in Urban America,
but they haven't been entered into the discussion.
	*Note - The US is an urban nation; over 70% live in urban areas. The 
figure is higher for blacks.*
	For instance, almost all American cities (and especially the so-called 
"inner city") are predominantly black or Hispanic - a trend which has evolved
since the 1950's. Therefore it should not be unusual that a city like
Washington DC, which is almost 90% black, to have most crimes committed by
blacks.
	Also, whites in most cities have moved out into the suburbs of most
American cities to the point that these communities are bigger in size and 
importance than the central city. I'm sure you will realize that these new 
suburban cities have much better health care, schools, police and fire depts.,
etc. stemming from a relatively newer base and a greater tax revenue. 
Meanwhile, the central city is left without the resources needed to operate, 
and a deteriorating infrastructure. 
	I can list a lot of other problems, but since I'm recalling all of 
this from memory (research done a year ago), I prefer to cut it short. A
few other things I can mention :
	1. There is a severe lack of "low-skill" jobs in the central cities,
because most of these jobs disappeared as the US turned from an industry-
oriented economy to a service and technology-oriented one. Also, a lot of
jobs moved into the suburbs (think malls) with the "white-flight." To make
matters worse, most businesses in the inner city aren't owned by an inner
city resident.
	2. Low-income residents in the central city are discriminated against
in the surburban housing market. There is a lack of low-income housing in 
the suburbs (where the jobs are). Also, public transportation from the inner
cities into the suburbs is practically non-exsistent. On the other hand, 
middle and upper-income families in the suburbs have no problem commuting
into the central city's business area, where most of the "white-collar" jobs
are located.
	3. Welfare. There is a larger percentage of single-parent black 
families than single-parent white families. Most of these families are
poor, and live in the inner-city area. Many of the people on welfare are
single mothers with children to support. Regardless of race.
	4. Crime has a lot more to do with income and environment than race. 
	5. The mere fact that the US documents and researches race-related
crime, SAT scores, income distribution, etc. shows that there is a problem.
	6. Talk about the housing project nightmare from the 1930s and beyond.
	7. Cities I'm sure that are predominantly black. Remember that this
is the central city population only. If you include the metropolitan area
(central city + suburbs), many are predominantly white in proportion with
national figures.
	above 75% black : Baltimore, Washington DC, Atlanta
	above 33% black : almost all other urban areas.
The trend is increasing. Blacks are the only low-income group that migrated
to the urban cities in the US and were unable to move up the income scale in 
large numbers. Although the situation for many has improved from the rural 
life, there is still a deep-rooted problem.
	Furthermore, it is fruitless to compare conditions across borders.
Of course many people consider Americans (of all races) rich and well-off.
But this is relative, because of the disparity between most whites and most
blacks in the US. Living standards vary greatly. Someone earning $10,000 in 
the US may barely be able to survive, while $1,000 somewhere else goes a long
way towards feeding a family. Similarly, countries like Canada which are
similiar to the US offer all their citizens health care, education and
other high-cost social services more equitably.
	I can't think of a country which is best for Afican-Americans to 
live. To do so would be saying that we are all of the same exact origin
and experience. And that's another discussion.



-- 
Patrice Simon
simon@acsu.cc.buffalo.edu			v5097ucd@ubvms.buffalo.edu
opnsimon@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american