Miami segregated
Miami Herald, The (FL) - Tuesday, April 10, 2007
I am a student currently enrolled in the Honors College at Florida International University and I am one of four in a group which is researching the growing problem of racial segregation within Miami 's communities. Although Miami is well known for its cultural diversity, it consistently ranks among the top 100 most racially segregated cities in the United States.
Miami 's black-white dissimilarity index, which is a measure of the relative separation of ethnic groups across all of the city's neighborhoods, is presently a staggering 75.8. In other words, this indicates that 75.8 percent of Miami 's African-American population would have to re-locate to other neighborhoods occupied by whites (Hispanics included) in order for full integration to occur.
One need not be an expert in racial relations to see that ethnic isolation within our city's limits is a genuine problem which needs addressing. The effects of racial segregation have undoubtedly been felt throughout Miami 's metropolitan areas, with neighborhoods such as Little Haiti and Overtown suffering from seemingly insurmountable levels of economic disparity.
The suffering has become two-fold: not only are families finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat in this sea of inequality , children are being subject to lesser educations than their counterparts in higher-income areas. The Dade-County school board has taken little action to ease the gap between such schools, often treating the problem as if it were non-existent.
Exemplary of this notion is the existing situation in the Little Haiti community involving Miami Edison Senior High School. For three consecutive years, the school has recorded an F grade on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Under the current system, Miami Edison's horrid performance on this exam has led it to experience a large reduction in government funding. Students often complain of overcrowded classrooms, a lack of computer labs, too few advanced placement classes, and textbooks which have not been replaced in ten years.
The school's situation is worsened by the fact that it cannot receive funding for renovation to its 79 year old structure. Miami Edison's retention rates have decreased significantly over the past few years in an area where only 9% of the population has a college education .
I feel that it is my duty as a concerned college student to make racial segregation a topic of discussion among those who read this newspaper. The issue has been regarded with apathy for too long, more so by those weary of memories of Miami 's racially torn past. By bringing the current situation into light, my colleagues and I wish to garner support in the struggle to end de facto segregation and integrate our society.
CHRISTOPHER ABIN, Miami
Miami 's black-white dissimilarity index, which is a measure of the relative separation of ethnic groups across all of the city's neighborhoods, is presently a staggering 75.8. In other words, this indicates that 75.8 percent of Miami 's African-American population would have to re-locate to other neighborhoods occupied by whites (Hispanics included) in order for full integration to occur.
One need not be an expert in racial relations to see that ethnic isolation within our city's limits is a genuine problem which needs addressing. The effects of racial segregation have undoubtedly been felt throughout Miami 's metropolitan areas, with neighborhoods such as Little Haiti and Overtown suffering from seemingly insurmountable levels of economic disparity.
The suffering has become two-fold: not only are families finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat in this sea of inequality , children are being subject to lesser educations than their counterparts in higher-income areas. The Dade-County school board has taken little action to ease the gap between such schools, often treating the problem as if it were non-existent.
Exemplary of this notion is the existing situation in the Little Haiti community involving Miami Edison Senior High School. For three consecutive years, the school has recorded an F grade on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Under the current system, Miami Edison's horrid performance on this exam has led it to experience a large reduction in government funding. Students often complain of overcrowded classrooms, a lack of computer labs, too few advanced placement classes, and textbooks which have not been replaced in ten years.
The school's situation is worsened by the fact that it cannot receive funding for renovation to its 79 year old structure. Miami Edison's retention rates have decreased significantly over the past few years in an area where only 9% of the population has a college education .
I feel that it is my duty as a concerned college student to make racial segregation a topic of discussion among those who read this newspaper. The issue has been regarded with apathy for too long, more so by those weary of memories of Miami 's racially torn past. By bringing the current situation into light, my colleagues and I wish to garner support in the struggle to end de facto segregation and integrate our society.
CHRISTOPHER ABIN, Miami
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