Urban Anthropology

Urban Anthropology Our urban metropolises are no longer the vibrant or essential centers they used to be. The mass migration of the wealthy into the suburbs has left our cities with reduced tax bases and less stability and in turn the cities have rapidly begun decaying. Our cities today are decadent and dangerous. Cites are the remnants of the industrial age and that time is gone.

Breaking down or getting a flat tire in the wrong block will get an unfortunate traveler an introduction into the horrors of street crime and the illegal narcotics industry. Our cities are just not nice places any more. "Residents air their complaints in community meetings (of block dubs, police beats, the Local School Council, church groups, the Chamber of Commerce). Gangs and gang bangers top the list of their concerns." (Pattillo) This report will attempt to present an anthropological answer to the culture of poverty in urban settings.

Poverty Poverty rates in American cities continue to increase and have gotten worse in the last ten years. Urban area civic leaders have reason to be concerned. Today's urban neighborhoods are creating unique economic and social problems. For example, it is continuously being proven by many urban anthropologists like Gmelch and Zenner that our urban black middle-class neighborhoods have a much higher poverty rate and consistently live closer to other poverty areas as compared to their peer white middle class neighbors.

Therefore, crime and other negative outcomes associated to poverty effect middleclass blacks more than middle class whites because poverty is and will continue to be an excellent incentive for criminal activity. Black middle class leader are obviously more concerned with widespread disorder if they do not manage the criminal element well around their homes. Schools in poverty stricken areas are not educating the young and the alternative for the kids is finding a better outlet. "School finance litigation fits nicely within this prevailing mood.

The goal of school finance litigation, generally speaking, is to increase the amount and equalize the distribution of educational resources and, in so doing, to improve the academic opportunities and performance of students disadvantaged by existing finance schemes." (Ryan) Concerned residents have to focus additional attention for their children. Curbing youth delinquency is a major challenge the poverty stricken urban areas.

"Residents also discuss the physical maintenance of the neighborhood, but this is frequently connected to the irresponsibility of idle young people, "gang bangers" who trash the neighborhood." (Pattillo) Despite positive attempts from political, civic and familial leadership, keeping a kid on the right path in the urban areas is difficult considering the other side is recruiting just as hard as the positive side does.

Urban community watch groups are often times the only true police presence and "Graffiti Blaster" programs attempt to keep businesses clean and presentable in spite of juvenile delinquency. Churches continue to play a major role in the middle class urban communities. Concerned residents can be powerless by legal methods to stop gangs and drug activity so informal mechanisms are the alternative source of help. This vigilantism has been shown to control these activities as church leaders, business people, and off duty police officers fill the role.

Organized marches on drug blocks or houses within a neighborhood usually get organized in the local church. Churches are also the driving force in many cases that keep gang activity off of the public elementary school's playgrounds. Keeping the playgrounds unattractive for drug and gang activity again has usually come from church groups. Urban life Urban residents have to deal with issues not normally associated with suburban life.

Young people playing loud music, leaving trash on their lawns, stealing backyard furniture are all part of a typical day in the city. "One woman at a beat meeting complained of young men "gangbanging" (i.e., congregating) on her corner and of one man in particular who she thought was in charge.

But, she said, "I didn't wanna give this young man's name [to the police] because his mama is such a sweet lady." This comment illustrates that while dense neighborhood networks and the resulting familiarity can improve some informal efforts at social control, it can thwart the use of public or formal means of control." (Pattillo) Cause Some of the typical causes of urban poverty ties back to our economy: Unemployment among single mothers continuous to rise. In the past couple of years unemployment among single mothers has consistently risen.

Education levels continue to contribute to the.