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                                           “Would you like to go with me
                                              Down my dead end street
                                         Would you like to come with me
                                                    To Village Ghetto Land “- STEVELAND MORRIS

Detroit named nation’s most dangerous city

“DETROIT — In another blow to the Motor City’s tarnished image, Detroit pushed past St. Louis to become the nation’s most dangerous city, according to a private research group’s controversial analysis, released Sunday, of annual FBI crime statistics.

The study drew harsh criticism even before it came out. The American Society of Criminology launched a pre-emptive strike Friday, issuing a statement attacking it as “an irresponsible misuse” of crime data.

The 14th annual “City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America” was published by CQ Press, a unit of Congressional Quarterly Inc. It is based on the FBI’s Sept. 24 crime statistics report”-

YAHOO.COM

I regret to introduce this critical essay with unfortunate current facts. These very statistics struck my attention through a BBC news report. With a report in direct relation to the Urban Cry LLC, In recent years ive wacthed the social climate of american east coast cities(also between in living in Philadelphia and New Jersey) how they fluctuated between holding the title of being america’s worst to reside in.  In latter years we witnessed the crown being handed from camden NJ(“the black hole”) to the motor city itself 2nd quater 2011.  As statistics rest on the ediface of Detroit, michigan, most of the highest reflect those in violent, and property crime. 

Crime

Main article: Crime in Detroit

“Although crime has declined significantly since the 1970s, the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the U.S.A., while the chances are roughly 1 in 16 to be a victim of a property crime”-

Wikipedia

Apart from detroit currently being the spearhead in statistics, i take time to reflect on the glory of detriot; a metropolis that set its own legacies in stone and gave to the nation and world culturally”Motown” etc. On the forefront Detroit still tells its story of metropolis struggles; similar to the narratives of the late 70′s urban fiction author Donald Goines 1936-1974.  The same stories/realities of underdeveloped communities processed by gentrification. The same turmoil and saga of drugs, narcotics, poverty and death in american inner cities. The same common features of the ediface of the american urban plight.

1 in 4 in poverty in Baltimore

September 22, 2011|By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun

“About one in four Baltimore residents is living in poverty, a one-year increase of more than 20 percent, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.Although the recession officially ended in June 2009, a federal survey conducted last year shows that the downturn’s enduring effects have led poverty rates to skyrocket over a short period. The uptick is straining government and charitable resources and leaving Baltimore leaders scrambling for solutions.”-
 
Baltimoresun.com

 This reference in relation to my coin, or defintion to Oscar Lewis’s “Culture of Poverty” term, elaborated through a recent feature essay. The ultimate  societal behavior/reaction, among communities suffering under specific economic conditions: 

“Conservatives often condemn the poor, particularly African-Americans, for having children out of wedlock, joblessness, dropping out of school, or tolerating crime. Liberals counter that, with more economic opportunity, the poor differ little from the nonpoor in these areas. In answer to both, Coping with Poverty points to the survival strategies of the poor and their multiple roles as parents, neighbors, relatives, and workers. Their attempts to balance multiple obligations occur within a context of limited information, social support, and resources. Their decisions may not always be the wisest, but they “make sense” in context.”-

Coping with Poverty: The Social Contexts of Neighborhood, Work, and Family in the African-American Community

Baltimore, Maryland is a featured example of an american inner city crisis, against a progressive struggle. In a small window of time since the recent recession, in the process of healing statistics stated poverty rose; having a significant prescence in politics, and baltimore’s communities.  A close portrayal of baltimore is the recent HBO  series “The Wire” est.2000-2008.  The picture of thriving buisness and industrial setting is blanketed with a race within the cost of living; a minority population with a percentage, lower class, underclass, seemingly trapped in a struggle, based in socio-economic issues.  Baltimore, like Detriot has seen a history of drug trafficking, drug enterprises and violent crime. In light of stating the obvious, with insight of economic reform, detroit’s governing bodies, districts and communities all have opt for ultimate social change. With the american economy in progressive restoration, among its pros and cons, economic opportunity can be created.  Under the umbrella of capitalism, all economic classes can experience differences; from investments of land for buisnesses and institutions in most underdeveloped areas where detroit’s communities can benefit ie:(small buisnesses, government services, community centers, charter schools). In the current harsh realities of detroit, another aspect to consider is community fundamentalism. The greater sense of community among the metropolis and suburbs generally creates a focus on social issues; down to matters of politics, youth, and the general safety of detroit’s communities. Though crime, the drug epidemic and its casualties and other social problems are commonplace in most american cities, some of the factors listed offer challenge: to the recent entitlement to Michigan’s most significant metropolis.

   

“Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.“-

Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965(Malcolm in the “Detroit red” years)
 
Malcolm’s words stream in the minds of detroit native’s, community developers, victims of violent crime, and advocates of social justice.  My company, The Urban Cry LLC is a grassroots administration to the American urban plight, and encourages a general social consciousness for global matters. Observing the nation pass the baton for the infamous city name should create among officials nationally efforts, and hopes for a better american standard among inner cities.  A national standard where, in hopes of a improved economy,  under constant community development, that no city will fall in the depths of statistics. No region is ultimately devoid of its challenges.  But the challenge of any region is to collectively improve for the present, and future.
 
Consciously yours,
Z.A