gray areas.

something caught my eye today.

on my queen city post, a couple people had the thought that maybe the segregation in our city was due to people just wanting to be around those who are most like them.

this immediately made me stop. stop in confusion, disappointment, but the more i sat, the more i thought about it.

could that one thought be a good reason why things are so separate in the first place?

let's look at the link again:
an updated map with 2010 census.

so who lives in what areas?
red: caucasian
blue: african american
green: asian
orange: hispanic
yellow: other

the concentrated areas of colors other than red are closer to the downtown area of cincinnati. but why?

according to the citizens for civic renewal, 40% of the population in cincinnati's urban area are living in concentrated poverty.

so let's look at the effects of concentrated poverty: unsafe neighborhoods, failing schools, substandard housing, inadequate private services and diminished community hope (thank you case studies). and all of these weigh heavily on those living in these areas and have lost hope for options to live elsewhere.

so.. do you really think those living in poorer neighborhoods are wanting to live there just because they want to fit in?

i really hope you changed your mind.