The desegregation of white and black businesses created a more free market economy, but it also resulted in decreased support for black businesses, as black customers turned to desegregated white businesses that offered cheaper products.
The intersection of race and poverty in America is often used as an argument for or against claims of discrimination, but systemic issues cannot be discounted when discussing poverty.
Jim Jones and his church members organized peaceful protests in front of white-owned restaurants and shops to fight for equality and handed out flyers to his members with a list of businesses that supported them, ultimately benefiting the businesses through increased advertising and revenue.
Bryan Stevenson discusses the failure of integration and the need for a Marshall Plan for the black community in America. He reflects on his own history and the challenges faced by his enslaved great-grandparents.
The way to address concerns about issues such as failing schools and police misconduct is to form alliances with other Americans who seek change. Violent protests, like those that followed the George Floyd killing in 2020, set back progress for African Americans.
This article explores how homeownership, once considered a reliable way to build wealth, often causes residents of black neighborhoods to become more deeply tied to declining communities, while being abandoned by federal policies and criminal justice systems.