Why do minorities congegrate in cities?

[SP33Demon]

Housing traditionally was usually cheaper in the city due to higher crime/drugs, and of course that resulted in white flight. It's only natural for us to want more space, so the (white) people who could generally afford more land in rural areas left the city. While things are a little different today due to gentrification, you still see the remnants of older times. Baltimore is a great example, dirt cheap housing and mostly ghetto outside of the Inner Harbor/Johns Hopkins (i.e. nicer areas) zones. Even white liberals will live in these areas. However, whites still dominate most rural areas in this country with a few exceptions.

The fact that the government is subsidizing ghetto housing is part of the problem. For example, my contractor friend buys ghetto apts in Baltimore for a few thousand, fixes them up for cheap, and waits at the welfare office for possible tenants. He will get most of their housing subsidy in the process, they pay his mortgages off in a few years, and there is no way these minorities will ever get out of there (hardly any jobs in the area) until gentrification creep hits that area which could be another 40-50 years. Economics, primarily welfare, is the major reason. In other Hispanic countries (such as South American ones) they would just let you rot if you didn't work.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Housing traditionally was usually cheaper in the city due to higher crime/drugs, and of course that resulted in white flight. It's only natural for us to want more space, so the (white) people who could generally afford more land in rural areas left the city. While things are a little different today due to gentrification, you still see the remnants of older times. Baltimore is a great example, dirt cheap housing and mostly ghetto outside of the Inner Harbor/Johns Hopkins (i.e. nicer areas) zones. Even white liberals will live in these areas. However, whites still dominate most rural areas in this country with a few exceptions.

The fact that the government is subsidizing ghetto housing is part of the problem. For example, my contractor friend buys ghetto apts in Baltimore for a few thousand, fixes them up for cheap, and waits at the welfare office for possible tenants. He will get most of their housing subsidy in the process, they pay his mortgages off in a few years, and there is no way these minorities will ever get out of there (hardly any jobs in the area) until gentrification creep hits that area which could be another 40-50 years. Economics, primarily welfare, is the major reason. In other Hispanic countries (such as South American ones) they would just let you rot if you didn't work.

That's what real people call "encouragement". Our country needs more of it.

 

[pete6032]

The Internet really does bring out the worst in people doesn't it?

 

[Murloc]

Housing traditionally was usually cheaper in the city due to higher crime/drugs, and of course that resulted in white flight. It's only natural for us to want more space, so the (white) people who could generally afford more land in rural areas left the city. While things are a little different today due to gentrification, you still see the remnants of older times. Baltimore is a great example, dirt cheap housing and mostly ghetto outside of the Inner Harbor/Johns Hopkins (i.e. nicer areas) zones. Even white liberals will live in these areas. However, whites still dominate most rural areas in this country with a few exceptions.

The fact that the government is subsidizing ghetto housing is part of the problem. For example, my contractor friend buys ghetto apts in Baltimore for a few thousand, fixes them up for cheap, and waits at the welfare office for possible tenants. He will get most of their housing subsidy in the process, they pay his mortgages off in a few years, and there is no way these minorities will ever get out of there (hardly any jobs in the area) until gentrification creep hits that area which could be another 40-50 years. Economics, primarily welfare, is the major reason. In other Hispanic countries (such as South American ones) they would just let you rot if you didn't work.

the fact that there are slums where there is no housing subsidy is quite telling that nothing changes, except that the quality of housing decreases.

 

[sandorski]

As much as no one wants to admit it (a la white people aren't wacist), every race only wants to be around more of their race. It doesn't matter if it's white people, asians, black people, mexicans, etc... Everyone would rather be surrounded with their own kin rather than others. It's just natural. Would you rather live in a neighborhood of whitey or a neighborhood of mexicans that only speak Spanish that you can never communicate with? Believe me, I live in a neighborhood of mexicans that can only speak Spanish... and I understand the conflict, because NO ONE talks to each other.

In my neighborhood there is little "neighborhood watch" for each other because few people look or care for each other. We also feel much less safe. I recall growing up as a kid running around and not having a care in the world. Now everyone wants to keep their children locked up inside as much as possible for "safety"

It really is a large issue that most are unable to bring up in conversation.

All it takes is to google maps of black population. They ONLY keep with their kind. Logic would say to diverse and go where opportunities are, but you can clearly see a map of where each and every race is populated.

This is a gross over simplification. It's not so much preference for Ones' own Race, it is preference for what One is familiar with. Quite often that is Race, but is usually Ethnic.

For American Blacks/Africans it is more Racial, but that's a result of History. They had to congregate due to being marginalized by the rest of Society. Even with the abolition of Slavery they were intentionally segregated. It will take many more generations before that separation from the rest of Society becomes a thing of the past.

Other notable groups that spent a time segregated were the Irish and Italians. That wasn't Racial at all, it was Ethnic/Cultural/Religious based segregation. In time they integrated and their Race probably helped that, but it wasn't the sole reason.

 

[Artorias]

BTW, in Toronto a friend who is black is treated like everyone else walking into a new place. No surprise. In a busy schedule, most people don't have time to worry about the colour of your skin. Torontonians treat everyone equally hostilely. j/k

In backwater Ontario, walk into a cafe and everyone turns around and stares for several seconds. Very awkward.

I've heard this several times now, makes me wonder about Canada's so called openness.

 

[sandorski]

I've heard this several times now, makes me wonder about Canada's so called openness.

It happens. I grew up mostly in small town BC/Alberta. I wasn't exposed to much racial diversity there, but there was some mostly Japanese in southern BC. There was a lot of Ethnic variety though, especially in the Cultural sense such as Russians(Doukabors(sp) and some other Religious based groups that maintained their traditions), French(from Normady), and a smattering of other European immigrants(even my Dad). Had some exposure to people from a wide variety of Races/Cultures in Fort McMurray, but even then that was a small city of 30,000 when I was there.

After living in Vancouver for 8 years I moved back to one small town for awhile and noticed the different attitude of family/friends who had stayed there. Even then it wasn't terrible, of the Indians that began moving there some awkward attitudes existed, but at the same time there was appreciation for them as people got to know them. Which really is important, Ethnic/Racial minorities that take the initiative to let others know them have a far greater chance of being accepted. Canadians are generally used to a variety of peoples and as such when exposed to new people they abandon pre-conceived notions fairly quickly. I did however whince a few times from what I heard people say.

 

[Murloc]

I've heard this several times now, makes me wonder about Canada's so called openness.

blacks also shit bricks the first time they see a white man.

I know Canadians have television and stuff, but it's not really the same thing, when you see certain africans for the first time you notice stuff like the wide nose and stuff that isn't noticeable in the rare mixed race african-american actors you see on the typical free to air tv serials. Like how black the skin is, or the fact that the palms of the hands contrast a lot with the skin.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Proximity to jobs.

Yup, you know OP, the reason there are cities in the first place?