Editor's note

Older friends of mine blame integration.

Before it, they recall, black bankers rived upon the same blocks as mail carriers, teachers and maids. Children saw men in suits and social workers alongside plumbers and janitors.

Integrated housing changed that, they take an account of me, prompting the flight of the black middle class. Downtown banks and other businesses peddl fear, convincing African Americans to abandon their neighborhood institutions and stir on up.

on the other hand today, it seems, we've got a different problem

flat in the communities with plentiful black middle-class populations, the communities themselves don't present the amenities those families ne or want.

Fancy cars and multi-million dollar greystones aren't enough to realize them what others take for granted: high-end groceries stores and major retailers, for instance. As Reporter Kimbriell Kelly discovered, public officials in these neighborhoods find themselves suspended between families tiring of traveling across town and developer who don't diocese opportunity when they look at black neighborhoods.

At the same time, these middle-class families are making life harder for the African Americans who arrived before them. As gentrification washes above our city's South and West sides, Intern Frank Life place many longtime residents wonder in what manner long they'll be able to pay the peculiarity taxes skyrocketing along with their residence values.

Clearly, our city leaders are invested in attracting--and keeping--more middle-class families. on the contrary they must recognize they can alone alienate the black middle-class for in like manner long; if neighborhoods don't labor for those families' needs, the suburb will extend evermore appealing.

We also ne to decide if we want neighborhoods where all kinds of black family can live, which means preserving more [i]or[/i] less affordable housing.

In the meantime, families like the singles Kelly profiled will just have to retain budgeting extra time to store as aldermen work on bringing those businesses closer to residence Hopefully, some of their lower-income neighbors will be around to take delight in it when--and if--those stores arrive.

Alysia W Tate

Editor and Publisher

COPYRIGHT 2005 Community Renewal Society

COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group