Maybe Black Folks Can Learn Something from Gentrification...

San Francisco... Washington, D.C....Detroit...Milwaukee...

We’ve all seen it happening; A black neighborhood that could pass for someplace in the developing third world miraculously morphs into a haven for urban well-to-doers and upscale young professionals. Property values go up, A Starbucks pops up on the corner and it a wrap; Instant gentrified neighborhood. In the meantime, the suburban life (a dream that a lot of black folk aspired to once they got a little bit of money or education) becomes a little LESS appealing, since lil’ Ray-Ray and Co. moved in next door.

In the news we often see these same neighborhoods (prior to gentrification) racked with the all too common symptoms associated with poverty, crime, and drugs. We also see the classic stereotypical responses from the rest of society whenever any topic touching on this ‘phenomenon’ is addressed. Apathy, indifference, and borderline covert racism isn’t uncommon when people actually have the stomach to talk about this issue. We know where the white folks are in this equation; Where are the responsible, stand-up black folks at? Definitely NOT in the places where we’re needed at the most. I mean, let’s be real here; They’re many of us that worked our asses off to obtain the tools to escape from the toxic landscape that’s being discussed here. Many of us don’t EVER want to be reminded of that type of existence again. In fact, we tend to distance ourselves COLLECTIVELY from folks STILL in those straits. It’s natural, isn’t it?

When did this type of mentality take hold? Our communities didn’t used to be this way; When things happened in the “hood” that threatened the folks living there, your fellow neighbor was quick to offer assistance. People were willing to mentor, to give their own time and share their expertise with people that really needed it. Where is that sense of community among black folks today? We don’t have a problem seeing it in the Hispanic community; Don’t see it in Asian communities. In fact, it seems that other ethnic groups are gaining a great deal of power and self-determination from bonding together and making their COLLECTIVE voices and actions count. What’s our problem? It was cool to have an African-American POTUS; Many of us never thought we’d see it in our lifetime. However, Obama being in office is NO INDICATOR that we’ve repaired what’s ailing (and ultimately destroying) our communities and neighborhoods.

Here’s a novel idea; Instead of complaining about the kids hanging at the corner with their pants around their ankles, be proactive and provide a successful example for those kids to observe. Be a visible picture of what hard work and commitment will get you. It’s cool to have gone to college and reaped the rewards of hard work; Doesn’t mean you can’t pass that energy and knowledge down to others in order to CREATE new opportunities. Hold our social and faith-based organizations to the same standard. Healing and re-inventing OUR communities starts at the grassroots level. It starts with that college grad having the awareness to come back to a neighborhood and donate his time and know-how in order to help the less-inclined to create their own opportunity. It starts with churches actually taking an ACTIVE interest in the neighborhoods around them, rather than only being interested when Sunday tithing time comes around (this isn't indicative of ALL churches black folks go to, but they're enough of them out there to raise an eyebrow). 

We can’t hold the government responsible to do their job until we lay the groundwork for it to get done. How many neighborhoods needs to be lost for us to collectively understand that? I dunno, but the folks that are moving into places like the aforementioned cities don't really care.