Definitely in a much better place.
Racism and Capitalism would still be in effect but overall more Black folks alive, healthy, and working in the legit economy. The main effect of crack was a lot of people becoming addicts and becoming net negative to the community, lots of death from drug use and drug selling, the illegal economy soaked up a lot of cats that would not have gone that route, stray bullets, and then the so-called "crack babies". And then there are knock on effects to the neighborhood in terms of schooling, healthcare, property theft, retail, and then property value (for the few owners)... Which in turn hits folks in the pockets later in life....
That said, the economic ladder for Black Men in America, has always been precarious. Black faces in high places is already a rat race - be it in university, fortune 500 employment, or entrepreneurship. For the everyday brother - de-industrialization, decline of unions - both of which were not black friendly to start - still happens with or without crack.
Compounded GDP earned by productive Black Members of Society - would probably mean more black wealth overall - in terms of housing - though black folks owning their own homes doesn't translate to property value.
DC specifically
Would the ladder from Anacostia to working in the Federal Government still exist? Cause the 08 crisis, hurt a lot of white folks trying to get jobs in the private sector - and DC became even more appealing to transplants.... (looks at mirror)
- Len Bias Lives
- Marion Berry is mayor for longer
- More of the homes in NW, NE, SW, and SE would be owned by Black people
- There might not be as much gentrification in NW.
- some of the 2008 financial crisis was property flippers getting loans to gentrify - and those loans were bundled into MBS's, and those mortgage backed securities were further gambled upon,,,,
- The level of crime went down in the 90s, and even now it's at all time historical lows - despite how people "feel" about crime (because the news contributes to fear). But there'd still be crime in DC...
The crack epidemic drained a lot of money out of the black community…Black community was already fukked up
Probably be in the same position
There were no jobs
Black people weren’t the only ones getting highThe crack epidemic drained a lot of money out of the black community…
Just think of how many dollars were spent on drugs during that period?
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Regardless of how his much other communities spent. Billions weee funneled out of black householdsBlack people weren’t the only ones getting high
The majority of that money came from outside the community
Len Bias died from powder cocaine.Racism and Capitalism would still be in effect but overall more Black folks alive, healthy, and working in the legit economy. The main effect of crack was a lot of people becoming addicts and becoming net negative to the community, lots of death from drug use and drug selling, the illegal economy soaked up a lot of cats that would not have gone that route, stray bullets, and then the so-called "crack babies". And then there are knock on effects to the neighborhood in terms of schooling, healthcare, property theft, retail, and then property value (for the few owners)... Which in turn hits folks in the pockets later in life....
That said, the economic ladder for Black Men in America, has always been precarious. Black faces in high places is already a rat race - be it in university, fortune 500 employment, or entrepreneurship. For the everyday brother - de-industrialization, decline of unions - both of which were not black friendly to start - still happens with or without crack.
Compounded GDP earned by productive Black Members of Society - would probably mean more black wealth overall - in terms of housing - though black folks owning their own homes doesn't translate to property value.
DC specifically
Would the ladder from Anacostia to working in the Federal Government still exist? Cause the 08 crisis, hurt a lot of white folks trying to get jobs in the private sector - and DC became even more appealing to transplants.... (looks at mirror)
- Len Bias Lives
- Marion Berry is mayor for longer
- More of the homes in NW, NE, SW, and SE would be owned by Black people
- There might not be as much gentrification in NW.
- some of the 2008 financial crisis was property flippers getting loans to gentrify - and those loans were bundled into MBS's, and those mortgage backed securities were further gambled upon,,,,
- The level of crime went down in the 90s, and even now it's at all time historical lows - despite how people "feel" about crime (because the news contributes to fear). But there'd still be crime in DC...