The New South
I remember getting fountain cherry cokes from Clark's Pharmacy on Saturday mornings on Main Street in Williamston. I think you can still get them there (cherry or vanilla). It was what we did on Saturday mornings in that sleepy town nestled on the Roanoke river. Williamston, North Carolina was a perfectly quiet and segregated town when I was a teenager in the early 1980's. The Jim Crow signs were down by then, but the sentiment still lingered. There were still at least two segregated lunch counters and other places that were "understood" as off limits. The town has changed some since then. The lunch counters and other establishments are now all fully integrated.
Is it safe now? Well, It is no longer the safe haven from the city that my parents knew when they sent me there at the age of 12. It's still safer than a larger city, but it has lost its "innocence." Dope and cocaine can now be found within it's crevices and street corners. As a matter of fact, there are parts of town that have become so urban that they have changed the name of the street. For instance, Sycamore Street has now become Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Unfortunately, that's usually a clear indication that the Ghetto has arrived.
Martin Luther King, Jr., God bless your soul
Comments
elaborations are in order....
your definition of ghetto?
It is a financially and/or socially depressed area of a city/town that is usually located on the lower west end or south side.
The Ghetto mentality is one that is plagued with the inability to see past ones own existence or status in life.
I completely agree. I wonder if the "powers that be" are trying to send a msg?
Thanks for stopping by.
A comedian made a joke about that - if you looking for crime in amy city ask where MLK Blvd is.
Hello. I was out to lunch. :)
Yes, the word "Ghetto" has been thrown around quite a bit. As you mentioned, it's usually referring to something that is dirty, crime infested, poor quality, or just something that is gaudy. Although, historically it was in reference to Jewish or Italian neighborhoods it has, without a doubt, become just a Black condition. This is especially true when in reference to the poor.
Is it any city? I'm hoping that there is a city or town somewhere that has a MLK blvd that is not in a poor depressed area. If anyone knows of one please share.
my husband works for an alternative school (the only one here) where all the rejeted BAD kids are sent
and the name of the school
drum roll please.....
Martin Luthur King Jr Academy of Excellence
I will let you figure out the race ratio on your own
But to disagree, it's not the "white folks", Mwabi that throw the word "Ghetto" around so casually. It's black folks too.
THANKS BESS for this write-up. AND more importantly thank-you for the reference to the Jewish community and the word "Ghetto". Many people don't necessarily relate the two.
When the white man came
Our mother girls became
When the white man came
Our fathers boys became
When the ghetto came
Our children dealers became
When the ghetto came
Our sisters prostitutes became
When the ghetto came
Our brothers pimps became
When the ghetto came
Our neighborhoods slums became
I am sure you know this is in-built in the system!!
I'm happy that you are feeling that. I've been thinking about this post a bit and I am beginning to feel the sentiments of the song..."The World Is A Ghetto."
Tryphina-
You're an amazing poet!
Yes, we are all throwing that word around casually. I've heard White, Black, Asian, and Latinos using it in reference to anything tacky or negative.
Imagine someone saying that at the turn of the 20th Century: "Those Italians over in Little Italy are so Ghetto!" Haa haa! :)