If that were the case, I would have fought back. I had never even taken time to learn about my new neighbors. Instead, I had retreated behind my self-imposed isolation. I was ripe for an unscrupulous real estate agent to profit from my fears. And to repeat a cycle that has blighted other communities in the past.
Nothing can force homeowners to stay put when others of a different race move in.
That stability can happen only when residents are willing to see their neighbors as individuals rather than members of a racial group. It must be faced for what it is. The effort under way in Olympia Fields and South Holland to bring together blacks and whites is a good place to start. Tougher penalties targeting racial steering and improper real estate practices also could help change the flight pattern. In the meantime, I can't help but feel sorry for all those homeowners who fled skyrocketing property values, good schools and low crime rates.