The media has a tendency to manipulate the public perception through isolated incidents. Inflammatory news reportings about the Baltimore race riots, Flint water crisis, and high crime rates in urban settings create a negative impression on chocolate cities and the black population without examining the root cause of the distress. However, by examining the past behind contemporary issues, this course emphasizes the continuity of history. This cause-and-effect inquiry of the history of the black experience in America presents a new and accurate lens to views issues occurring in society today. Through contemporary examples like the Flint water crisis, police brutality, and mass incarceration, I demonstrate that issues plaguing chocolate cities…show more content… As discussed in discussion section, flint was in economic downturn after the General Motors plant left the city. However, instead of investing it into the community to create better educational programs and communities, the mayor and legislative authority of Flint decided to gamble the community’s money on AutoWorld, a failed amusement park that cost the town millions. To clarify, the politicians thought it would be more fruitful to start a theme park with low demand than bring that money back into a predominantly working-class black community. Moreover, the systematic neglect of the health of the population also is a result of racial discrimination and disregard for basic humanity. The water is primarily polluted because large industrial dumping in the Flint river (www.acs.org). If it was middle-class, white suburb, the local representation would not tolerate the direct environmental mistreatment. Hillary Clinton, when discussing the Flint predicament, directly claimed the situation would be different had it happened in “white suburb outside of Detroit” (blogs.lib.msu.edu). Flint is a chocolate city that exemplifies the complete lack of legislative power and consideration for human life concerning black communities, an issue persistent throughout American…show more content… Although there is a lot of conversation on superficial solutions and pressure to hold the offender accountable, there is a concerning consistent theme of acquittal and irresponsibility. As examined in Black Reconstruction by Du Bois, the planter class was a small percentage consisting of southern elites who owned the majority of plantations; they had inflated egos, strong racial biases, and profited on racial injustice (Du Bois 35). After slavery was abolished, the planter class became extinct as they intermingled with the rising poor whites (Du Bois 52). Despite this, their mindset of deep-seeded racism continues today; lynchings are proof such views lingered. In contemporary society, although lynchings are not as commonly discussed, police brutality is. In fact during discussion section, the class compared mob murders to police murdering innocent black people. Not only does it renew racial tension, it conveys the message that black people are not privileged to have the same rights afforded to whites. Moreover, it appears as if society is indifferent to the unjustified murders of its black citizens. This develops strong emotions of fear and insecurity due to lack of justice and
