cawacko
Well-known member
Since I posted an article about white people in Philly I'll comment on a discussion from a black perspective today. My buddy is getting his PhD in Black Studies from Cal Berkeley. He posted this on Facebook today which has started a long discussion.
Many see East Oakland as a dangerous place where drugs are sold, hoes can be seen walking down the street and shooting occur daily. But what many do not know is that Eastmont Mall and the location where Acts Full Gospel Church is located were once automobile factories that employed thousands of African Americans workers. And because of red lining in Oakland African Americans had to live together and the good out numbered the bad 10 to 1. The average production worker at that time made in today's money $50.00 per hour. So young African American men would graduate high school and with a recommendation from their dad, uncle or mom could get a good job that they could work at for 30 plus years. This was true for the Post Office, City of Oakland, Port of Oakland, etc...
Now those jobs are long gone and unemployment for young African Americans is near 50% and with red lines gone many upward mobile Blacks moved out of East Oakland for the hills or the suburbs. It is important to know how neighborhoods became hoods. My name is Shawn and I am from East Oakland and live in East Oakland!- Shawn G. "Mayor of East Oakland"
The discussion was whether successful blacks should leave places like East Oakland or stay in the neighborhood. The people who responded to this post were all black. As a white person I had nothing to add but I read it with interest as a 'dialogue on race' even an all black one like in this case can open people's eyes. The answers seemed to be 65/35 with the 65% saying they want what's best for their family and their childrent and that means better neighborhoods and good schools and East Oakland does not offer that. The 35% argued successful blacks need to stay in the community so that the many kids who are growing up without fathers can see there are successful role models other than just athletes and drug dealers.
I throw it out as food for thought because it is an intersting discussion.
Many see East Oakland as a dangerous place where drugs are sold, hoes can be seen walking down the street and shooting occur daily. But what many do not know is that Eastmont Mall and the location where Acts Full Gospel Church is located were once automobile factories that employed thousands of African Americans workers. And because of red lining in Oakland African Americans had to live together and the good out numbered the bad 10 to 1. The average production worker at that time made in today's money $50.00 per hour. So young African American men would graduate high school and with a recommendation from their dad, uncle or mom could get a good job that they could work at for 30 plus years. This was true for the Post Office, City of Oakland, Port of Oakland, etc...
Now those jobs are long gone and unemployment for young African Americans is near 50% and with red lines gone many upward mobile Blacks moved out of East Oakland for the hills or the suburbs. It is important to know how neighborhoods became hoods. My name is Shawn and I am from East Oakland and live in East Oakland!- Shawn G. "Mayor of East Oakland"
The discussion was whether successful blacks should leave places like East Oakland or stay in the neighborhood. The people who responded to this post were all black. As a white person I had nothing to add but I read it with interest as a 'dialogue on race' even an all black one like in this case can open people's eyes. The answers seemed to be 65/35 with the 65% saying they want what's best for their family and their childrent and that means better neighborhoods and good schools and East Oakland does not offer that. The 35% argued successful blacks need to stay in the community so that the many kids who are growing up without fathers can see there are successful role models other than just athletes and drug dealers.
I throw it out as food for thought because it is an intersting discussion.
