Inequalities in Memphis
highly correlates with the economic segregation and residential segregation
that is present within the city. A study done in June of 2017 states that
Memphis is the fourth most segregated city in terms of race. "More than 46
percent of African-American residents in the Memphis metro area ... live in
neighborhoods where at least four in five residents are black” (WREG). Memphis
is one of the few cities with the highest percentage of African American
residents. One positive fact that speaks to the large black population in
Memphis is the fact that Memphis was recently named the top city for black
entrepreneurs to open a business. However, the residential and economic
segregation here is highly notable, which tends to outweigh any positive
aspects of the city.
The historical implications of the
housing market in Memphis has greatly impacted the current state of segregation
today. Redlining, housing discrimination, and white flight have all contributed
to the major inequalities across the nation. It has and will continue to impact
residents socially and economically, furthering the high correlations with poverty,
unemployment, and crime. Basic civil rights are still being advocated for due
to the need for a decrease in unemployment and crime and also a need for more
access to better transportation and resources. An example of a major problem
that affects Memphis in various ways is the poor public transportation system.
A better public transit system in Memphis would impact economic segregation
because people would have access to better jobs that are not necessarily
located in close proximity. “…consider that only about 12% of the jobs in the
region are within a 30-minute public transit trip. Within a half-mile of
transit, there are 213,000 commuters, and yet, only 2.3% of commuters use MATA”
(Smart City Memphis). This data not only shows how unpopular and unreliable
MATA is, but also how there is a dire need for better public transit. An
improvement in resources is another way that Memphis continues this cyclical nature
of inequalities. The community of Binghampton was recently in a food desert due
to the lack of access to a grocery store that is within walking distance. For
those without reliable transportation, this limits them to unhealthy options
such as the convenience stores or fast-food restaurants. healthy food options in
their neighborhood. Fortunately, this recently changed due to different
organizations, a couple being Many Hands Food Co-Op and Binghampton Food
Rescue, that advocated for the basic human necessities that had been neglected to
the Binghampton community; the Binghampton Gateway Center that holds a Save-A-Lot
and Dollar Tree opened up rather recently (Pipe Dream). Improving these
segregated areas with better opportunities and greater resources will only
diminish the cyclical nature of inequalities that persist in Memphis.
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http://www.smartcitymemphis.com/2017/02/memphis-deserves-great-transit/
https://www.bupipedream.com/news/81762/food-insecurity-in-binghamton-raises-response-from-campus-organizations/
http://wreg.com/2017/07/24/study-memphis-fourth-among-most-segregated-cities/
Looking more at transportation linked to the health of black communities, I recently learned about the high rates of infant fatalities in black neighborhoods. These deaths were tied to a lack of access to healthcare because public transportation in Memphis is so poor. In comparison, white communities do not have lower levels of infant fatalities because they have better access to healthcare. I think this example of health tied to transportation and race is very telling about how entrenched segregation and racism is in Memphis. Black children are dying in part due to a lack of access to resources white communities have access to. This is unjust and further highlights how little the government cares about black communities and lives in a city as segregated as Memphis.
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