Sept. 9, 2005
by Nadra Enzi
BlackBusinessList.Com Co-Owner

Email This Article

The following observation is offered by TS, my friend and colleague: " I think some White people will try to take ( destroyed ) land from Black homeowners ( in hurricane-impacted areas ). That's one reason why evacuation is such a double edged sword. People need to leave for safety 's sake but when reconstruction begins, will they still own their land?"

This one gave me pause and energized reflection on an old community security concern.

"Predatory Gentrification" is my nickname for displacing Black inner city residents via sweet heart deals with White contractors and the misuse of eminent domain by local governments.

Like a giant broom these measures force lower income African-Americans out to allow upper income Whites in- all in the name of "revitalization" and get this, "urban pioneering."

I first heard the "urban pioneering" term after I'd given a security presentation to a Savannah College of Art and Design graduate school class.

Visions of brave White settlers beating back hordes of wild-eyed Negroes came to mind but I kept this to myself.

The students were genuinely nice young people and there was no need to step on toes after such a good exchange of ideas and information.

Black people are being displaced in America's cities in the name of progress. Ironically, in Savannah, Georgia where this article is being written, sections of town where Jim Crow had labeled as "Black-Only" now experience a steady stream of White, Asian and Latino newcomers.

As a lifelong inner city resident, I am concerned by this changing demographic because when White people come to the neighborhood, it often isn't too long before their darker predecessors are subjected to enough local government attention to warrant voluntary relocation.

City inspectors will appear for every real or imagined infraction of municipal code and of course the police, the White community's bouncers,  will be summoned whenever your new neighbor finds himself on the losing side of an argument with one of the indigenous residents.

Posit this against the staggering span of damage endured by Black homeowners in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and it would behoove the Congressional Black Caucus and their state counterparts  to take measures to preempt any land grabs.

The same advance action should be taken by the NAACP. Urban League, SCLC and every other civil rights organization.

Crisis presents opportunity- the opportunity to give and, as TS and others  observe, the opportunity to take even the land from the water logged grasp of Black hurricane victims.

Time will tell whether a land grab will happen or not.

© Copyright 2005 BlackBusinessList.Com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Browse More BlackBusinessList.Com News

BlackBusinessList.Com...
The Ultimate Black Business Black Search Engine.

We have over one thousand black businesses from around the country that are ready and willing to serve you.

Please Refer back to BlackBusinessList.Com whenever you are in search of goods and services.

 NOTE: Please consider joining our group.  Our network of black business owners and professionals is growing daily.  Our group includes individuals from large organizations as well as from small mom and pop businesses.  The benefits of membership to our website are definitely worth the $10 per month membership fee.  As you browse this list of businesses, ask yourself, "Can I benefit from being in a listing that is seen by thousands of black business people from all over the United States and even other countries?"  Don't delay. Join BlackBusinessList.Com today!

All Rights Reserved
BlackBusinessList.Com, LLC
22 W. Bryan St. PMB 214
Savannah, GA 31401
Toll Free Phone: 1-888-650-0200