So, in The Truly Disadvantage, Wilson discusses how deindustrialization, depopulation, concentration of poverty, and social isolation left many communities in the poorest of conditions. Looking at these four different factors can really give us insight into impoverished urban communities.
Following WWII, deindustrialization began. Industries fell through or began to be outsourced and thus many lost their jobs. What happens after many lose their jobs? They start looking for jobs elsewhere and thus depopulation begins. However, those that are often able to leave are individuals who have the ability to leave. So after the lucky individuals get to leave, these communities end up having concentrated areas of poverty. Thus, then communities end up being socially isolated due to not having the resources to escape poverty.
Hm. That sounds like a bit of some structural problems to me.
Wilson’s four concepts to why these communities live in the poorest conditions was making me think of the mass incarceration rates that communities of color face (also, it might be helpful to look into the prison industrial complex if you haven't checked it out before). In a 2013 study produced by The Sentencing Project, data showed that “one of every three black American males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, as can one of every six Latino males—compared to one of every seventeen white males.” Why is it important to look at incarceration rates when it comes to connecting it to Wilson’s work? Well, Wilson’s concepts of depopulation, concentration of poverty, and social isolation can be connected to incarceration rates.
And now we dig a bit in to it
While Wilson talks about depopulation as it pertains to deindustrialization. I think it can be connected to losing individuals of communities to incarceration. Being incarcerated can lead to an area becoming less populated and thus can lead to even more concentration of poverty. In a study done by Rose and Clear, they talked about the importance of integrating those who had committed some sort of crime but to also thinking about the big roles they play in the community. For example, they talked about how offenders are usually individuals who are the main providers of families. This then highlights how removing these individuals from communities then removes a resource that families once had. Thus, removing individuals ends up leaving these communities with higher rates of poverty because the individuals that were once the main “bread winners” are now removed from the picture. Wilson then talks about how social isolation also occurs due to high concentrated areas of poverty. So, high incarceration rates not only equals to less population, higher rates of poverty, but also social isolation because you are now putting communities in a situation where one) there was never that many resources to begin with but two) once these individuals are integrated back int the community, they will not have the “right” experiences or credentials (also keeping in mind that they have a ‘record’) to leave this cycle of poverty.
Following WWII, deindustrialization began. Industries fell through or began to be outsourced and thus many lost their jobs. What happens after many lose their jobs? They start looking for jobs elsewhere and thus depopulation begins. However, those that are often able to leave are individuals who have the ability to leave. So after the lucky individuals get to leave, these communities end up having concentrated areas of poverty. Thus, then communities end up being socially isolated due to not having the resources to escape poverty.
Hm. That sounds like a bit of some structural problems to me.
Wilson’s four concepts to why these communities live in the poorest conditions was making me think of the mass incarceration rates that communities of color face (also, it might be helpful to look into the prison industrial complex if you haven't checked it out before). In a 2013 study produced by The Sentencing Project, data showed that “one of every three black American males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, as can one of every six Latino males—compared to one of every seventeen white males.” Why is it important to look at incarceration rates when it comes to connecting it to Wilson’s work? Well, Wilson’s concepts of depopulation, concentration of poverty, and social isolation can be connected to incarceration rates.
And now we dig a bit in to it
While Wilson talks about depopulation as it pertains to deindustrialization. I think it can be connected to losing individuals of communities to incarceration. Being incarcerated can lead to an area becoming less populated and thus can lead to even more concentration of poverty. In a study done by Rose and Clear, they talked about the importance of integrating those who had committed some sort of crime but to also thinking about the big roles they play in the community. For example, they talked about how offenders are usually individuals who are the main providers of families. This then highlights how removing these individuals from communities then removes a resource that families once had. Thus, removing individuals ends up leaving these communities with higher rates of poverty because the individuals that were once the main “bread winners” are now removed from the picture. Wilson then talks about how social isolation also occurs due to high concentrated areas of poverty. So, high incarceration rates not only equals to less population, higher rates of poverty, but also social isolation because you are now putting communities in a situation where one) there was never that many resources to begin with but two) once these individuals are integrated back int the community, they will not have the “right” experiences or credentials (also keeping in mind that they have a ‘record’) to leave this cycle of poverty.
And in case people do not want to critically look at why folks (primarily communities of color) live in poverty, well, I guess Tim Wise can explain it for ya… People tend to listen to Tim Wise more, right? #ThankYouTimWise #IGuess
http://www.timwise.org/2011/09/getting-what-we-deserve-wealth-race-and-entitlement-in-america/
*edit: once I finish making 400 tamales I will add sources and re-write it.
http://www.timwise.org/2011/09/getting-what-we-deserve-wealth-race-and-entitlement-in-america/
*edit: once I finish making 400 tamales I will add sources and re-write it.
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