BY L.M.
Deindustrialization
and criminalization are very closely linked with segregation. The main
difference between white neighborhoods and some segregated Hispanic/black
neighborhoods are deindustrialization and criminalization. As a community is
deindustrialized its property value goes down. As the businesses leave they
take away the jobs with them making most people in this communities jobless. According
to the recent reports poverty and unemployment are the 3rd most
causes for crimes and criminal activities in united states. This leaves us with
the question why is these Hispanic/black neighborhoods getting deindustrialized
and criminalized? The only difference between these communities is color of the
people.
The
answer to this question is neglect from police departments which is a form of
institutionalized racism and the way media portray these communities. Long
island a very segregated area of New York. Most of the Hispanics, Latinos and
blacks like in segregated communities. For example, West Hempstead and New
castle. These two towns are predominantly occupied by Hispanics and blacks.
These towns are part of Nassau county. But till this day Nassau police refuse
to patrol and be responsible for this towns. Therefore, these towns have their
own police departments which is very expensive and dysfunctional. This causes
the crime rate to sky rocket in these towns.
The
other main reason is the way media portray these communities. The main stream
media portray these communities as very crime prone places and not suitable to
life safely. News and entertainment media have reinforced these anxieties by
seemingly adhering to an unwritten rule that the only Latino stories worth
telling are about troubled youths or the people to strive to steer them straight.
(Hayes,1) This causes the property value to drop significantly. For example,
the property values in Levittown and Hicksville are 3 times as of what is it in
New castle and West Hempstead. This also prevents the working class Hispanics
and blacks from moving to these high class, mostly white communities. Institutionalized
racism and discrimination makes it very hard to change these situations around.
In a very segregated area such as long island it will take a very long time for
this to happen
SOURCE:
“The criminalization of Latino identity makes fighting gangs that much harder”,
Los Angeles times, David Hayes, 9/15/1996.