Deserts in Chicago?

Chicago, one of the largest cities that the United States possesses is also one of the most segregated. Some 3 million people are densely packed within the city containing a racial makeup of approximately 42 percent white, 36.8 percent black, and 4.4 percent Asian according to the 2007 U.S. Census. The survey also indicated that 26 percent of Chicago’s population was Hispanic descending from any race. These percentages would suggest great diversity within the city but further examination reveals the segregation and the lasting implications of isolation pertaining to the accessing of goods. This phenomenon known as food deserts has an extended impact over the ability of those within these neighborhoods to have access to cheap food or nutritious food.

            A food desert is another way to address a neighborhood or community that has little to no access to affordable, nutritious food. Yet there is no standard definition for what little to low access means and therefore little agreement on what a food desert is and should be considered. That is to say that maybe there should be a difference in access when you have similar neighborhoods 1 mile from the nearest grocery store when only one of the neighborhoods has the financial ability to own or lease a motor vehicle. For now and herein this article the term food desert will refer to the access of nutritious food within a Chicago neighborhood. Furthermore it will indicate available access to all major food groups as seen by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, a government agency established in 1994 to improve nutrition and well-being.

            According to a report issued by the Illinois Advisory Committee in 2011, food deserts are closely associated with areas that have poorer health, are a civil rights issue, and within the Chicago land area tend to affect the African American communities more so than others. Researchers also tended to notice that they follow racially segregated housing trends. Living in one of the most segregated cities then should produce an environment in which food deserts should be easy to study.



Figure 1

Figure 2

            Modern methods in computing have allowed researchers to more fully dive into this phenomena as a social issue and separate it through various aspects. Figure 1 shows the segregation within the city of Chicago through the use of colors to mark people according to the 2010 U.S Census Block data. Data from the 2007 U.S Census then shows areas in which the African American communities are lacking Supermarkets in figure 2. Then for specificity it is followed by figure 1.3 that breaks the areas of Chicago up to show access to grocery stores, larger super markets, full service chain stores, and discount chain stores. The results indicate that the majority of neighborhoods experience these food deserts are in fact primarily black. In fact it appears that only chain discount stores are prevalent within minority communities.

            Further reports have indicated that in some areas in the south of Chicago average a mile to the nearest food market. This means that some travel even further than that to get to a market. Within my suburban home I have access to 4 different large chain supermarkets within just a mile. These issues have fostered an environment in which small scale markets have appeared but do not have the competition normally seen within the capitalist structure. This has resulted in increased prices and little choice in product. Those within these neighborhoods have already been indicated to be on the poverty level of poor, but now also get taken advantage of if they cannot make the lengthy trip to a supermarket. Chain discount stores have started to integrate themselves into these neighborhoods as a result, but offer very little nutritious food supplies as nutrition costs money.

            Reading about these food deserts this week has been discouraging. Thinking we have a modern society when there is still struggle to find nutritious food within the city is ludicrous. That these problems further follow racially segregated neighborhoods and specifically those of minorities within the Chicago land area indicates that problems modern society would like people to believe have passed have in fact worsened. The lasting impacts on the lack of nutritious food have been implicated in other studies that have shown detrimental health effects like gum disease, kidney failure, diabetes, and mal-nourishment. Some things that are associated with high morbidity rates and longer hospital stays. In closing, the lack of available food is clearly seen in specific areas occupied by minorities. This contributes to overall health issues experienced within those communities and greatly reduces the market economy that America seems to perpetuate everywhere else.