The Redlining Factor

De facto segregation existed in most American cities during the dark days of Jim Crow with the effects felt today.

It involved, for the most part, a separation of black and white Americans, based on customs, choice, or institutional racism rather than law and upheld by those in power with harsh penalties for anyone who dared defy the system.

Redlining played a major role by denying African Americans the right to buy a home wherever they chose. It kept blacks confined to a particular area as lending institutions refused to approve mortgages for them in affluent or white neighborhoods. Black homeowners were also prevented from getting home improvement loans, and the value of property was often deflated when they tried to sell or move up the social ladder. It was common practice in the North as a covert form of discrimination with federal backing. Southern whites relied on overt measures to keep blacks out of their communities, such as lynching, physical assaults, intimidation, and death. 

In many instances, redlining resulted in ghettos or poor inner-city neighborhoods. The value of homes often plummeted as homeowners found it difficult to borrow money for upkeep, sometimes following prey to shady loan deals or rent-to-own schemes. Also, African Americans who were lucky relocated to the suburbs, leaving behind the less fortunate. As a result, black students attended segregated schools before being bused to areas less welcoming. In later years, food deserts developed as once proud bodegas and corner markets closed their doors and chain stores and strip malls avoided the areas. It was common practice across the country in so-called blighted communities.

Lastly, De facto segregation, strengthened by redlining, impacted rural areas particularly hard. In the 1970s, an African American businessman and future mayor of a predominantly black community in Southwest Georgia went on the local radio station to voice concerns about how the black neighborhoods were less developed than the white ones.  Many needed tree-lined streets and paved roads, which made driving difficult, and were built without sidewalks, parks, or streetlights for safety. To add insult to injury, older homes lacked indoor plumbing with outhouses in the back.  

As a result, a law was passed that mandated homes within the city limits be equipped with an indoor toilet, sink, and bathtub. Landlords often attached small rooms to the back of older homes. They could be entered from inside or the back porch. The dirt roads disappeared during the Funk and Disco era, but the sidewalks never materialized. 

 

It Would be Difficult to Replace Biden, Who Deserves the Nomination

In the past, political bosses picked their party nominees for president even after the advent of the primary system to ensure the best possible man, as it were at the time, would get the job, if there were no agreed-upon candidate, or the convention, deadlocked. It could mean as many as thirty or more ballots were cast before a leader was deemed suitable to those involved in the time-consuming process. Sometimes it bore fruit and at others, it didn't. 

In the 1960 Democratic presidential primaries, John F. Kennedy set out to win as many primaries as possible to prevent this from happening to him or a brokered convention. He enlisted his brother, Bobby, to keep his delegates in line or loyal to him and poached other delegates from rival candidates. After winning his party nomination, Kennedy narrowly defeated Vice President Richard Nixon in the general election.

Eight years later, in 1968, following the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, Vice President Hubert Humprey was awarded the Democratic nomination. Humprey had not competed in the primaries, and Senator Gene McCarthy held the delegate lead, likely after picking up Kennedy defectors. On election night in November, Humprey lost a nail-biter to former Vice President Richard Nixon.

Finally, in 1976, President Ford nearly lost the Republican nomination to Governor Ronald Reagan of California even though he accumulated more delegates while campaigning in the states that held primaries and caucuses. Ford suffered a narrow defeat to Jimmy Carter, an unknown governor from Georgia. 

It would be difficult to pull this off today or replace Biden since the rules are stricter and he has met the delegate threshold.  If I am not mistaken, the Democratic delegates are bound to the presumptive nominee or what is a closed convention. 

Male Bonding

 Men need male companionship no matter how hard they try to avoid it.  A woman is his wife, sister, mother, aunt, or partner.  She is not intended to be his buddy, homeboy, or someone he can discuss women's issues with or hang out with. 

Boys form pivotal relationships, some lasting a lifetime or in spirit. It is a rite of passage for young men on their path to manhood.

The black barbershop has survived for this reason. It is a sacred place where black men fellowship or air their differences. They get a fresh cut and feel they belong. Some come without needing the barber's service and depart better than when they entered.  

The church, lodges, fraternities, nightclubs, colleges, and other hangouts provided similar services, strengthening the Civil Rights Movement.

Men need friends or the proper male companion, whether someone in the community, a son, or a long-lost buddy. I learned this growing up or being around guys my age at work or in the community. Having friends, and someone to talk to or ask a favor makes life easier and a joy to be alive.