There are many reasons I pose that question. Most of the reasons are rooted in a sort of watery uneasiness that always followed me while dealing with my past associates. Maybe they weren't racist, but they certainly had sensitivity issues related to their dealings with the Black community in Lancaster. Let's begin with their attempt to buy land as cheap as possible in the southern sector for the sole purpose of emptying South Dallas into a cookie cutter nightmare of box style homes. Of course, not being builders, who could hold them responsible for the homes that were to be built? You see, that's what their goal was. To build a product that would attract the Blacks from South Dallas to a new upstart city with new homes. Easy financing, small lots, and big floor plans were they key. Throw in a few basketball courts (because we all love basketball) and you're done! Notice there aren't any tennis courts, or pools in these communities. Only basketball and hard coated metal play sets. No landscaping or ponds, just basketball and dry retention areas. They came in as a friend to the city promising quality and a better tomorrow and look at what you got instead. Large...Huge...Monstrous communities with no parks? $200,000 homes all in a neighborhood with no amenities? How about the new Boardwalk community that waits for its park and school. Neither of which will be seen in our lifetime!Promises...lies...disappointments...betrayal...That's what they will do. Come in as a friends, then shit all over you and f&ck your pet hamster, Jake! Well maybe not shit all over you, THAT'S a little far fetched.
Anyway, I once heard one make the comment that if we built a fountain in the proposed shopping center related to a development in southern Lancaster, "they" would only mess it up and it would become headache. My question then was...who exactly is "they", but in truth, I already knew. As all of "us" know when White guys says "they" in a conversation with other White guys. You see, I learned who "they" were when I was the only Black student in a private Catholic elementary school. Black people are who "they" are, to be precise. Now, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he meant "they" as in the many people that currently live in South Lancaster. Maybe he meant the munchkins in The Wizard of Oz or maybe he meant European tour bus drivers. I think not though, since the demographic that the project was designed to appeal to was...African American aka Black people.
Just goes to show how messed up this world is. You probably have more racists working to build your next community than working to keep you out of it!
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