Gentrification!

However much our country tries to prove to itself that it's the land of the free, the discrimination of minorities will continue to persist. Looking back through history America was blatantly segregated: restaurants, bars, casinos, and schools. Nowadays, this segregation is much more hidden, but just as evident. Through strategies such as racial profiling, eminent domain, and gentrification, marginalized communities continue to be separated from the rest of America. One of the main reasons for this is the gentrification of urban areas, marketed as a "revitalization of seemingly vacant/hopeless areas." Looking beneath the surface, we can see that these areas are filled with people who have been subjected to discriminatory practices and have seen the worst of America. It is impossible to separate yourself as a lone ranger among many and push yourself out of the cycle of poverty which is consistently supported by governmental policies. One of the tools of the government to implement gentrification in urban areas is the policy of the eminent domain. Oftentimes this policy is simply just lighting a fire in an area and letting it burn. Acting as if they believe they are Gandhi, the government tries to acquire and sell property in order to 'restore the city' and increase the verisimilitude of their facade in helping their citizens, when in reality, they are oftentimes simply just looking to sell the land and profit off the downfall of marginalized communities. While others may say that my stance on eminent domain is harsh, I will concede to the fact that it has benefitted our country in the past, but the current implementation of the policy is extremely flawed.