You have to get out of that neighborhood if you want decent children
March 10, 2016 2:59 AM   Subscribe

Memphis Burning
To understand racial inequality in America, start with housing. Here, in the nation’s poorest major city, the segregationist roots go deep.
This is the first article in an ongoing series, “The Inequality Chronicles.”
posted by Joe in Australia (7 comments total) 32 users marked this as a favorite
 
Read the whole thing. It ends with the suggestion that Memphis is potentially on the cusp of a new era, but from the ground level things don't look or feel that way.
posted by absalom at 3:13 AM on March 10, 2016


The Ford political machine did no great favors for the city either.
posted by nofundy at 5:22 AM on March 10, 2016


That first link goes to a not-specifically-related, different horrible story about Memphis.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:13 AM on March 10, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yeah, this is the article that JiA meant to link, I think.

The Ford political machine did no great favors for the city either.

True, but it was ultimately just a symptom of the bigger disease in politics in Memphis, Tennessee, and lots of other places--a family carving out its particular fiefdom and jealously defending it for as long as they could. They started in a business that represented the evils of segregation--a funeral home, because white morticians wouldn't bury black clients--and eventually were in power mostly because they always had been. For a short while, Harold Ford, Jr. looked like he might be the one to break out of local politics and actually accomplish something bigger and better, but his run for senate (which itself was marked by racist ads from his opponent) didn't pan out, and he hasn't exactly covered himself in glory since. Still, though, he, or even his dad for that matter, have nothing on the likes of, say, A.C. Gilless.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:40 AM on March 10, 2016


Yep. Combine corruption with stubbornly entrenched racism and you get the steaming pile of sadness and missed opportunities that is Memphis. It's so much of why I left as soon as I could.
posted by woodvine at 8:16 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh yeah! A link to the paper I write for! The "Memphis Burning" cover story is extremely well done, and worth your time to read in full.

I've been in Memphis for a long time, and it really feels like a changed city to me. It's still not perfect, by any means, but it's a damn sight better than it was when I got here, or even ten years ago.
posted by vibrotronica at 8:27 AM on March 10, 2016 [4 favorites]


This article was fantastic! Thank you for posting.
posted by staggering termagant at 12:00 PM on March 10, 2016


« Older First Listen Live: Esperanza Spalding, 'Emily's...   |   Disaffection pays dividends Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments