The Old Chocolate City

In 2011, the US Census reported Washington, DC with a population of 50.7% Black persons and 42.4% white persons.This is an increase from the 38.5% of reported white persons in the 2010 US Census. This marks the highest percentage of whites living in the District since the 1960s, when whites were leaving the city for the region's more spacious suburbs.Prior to 1960, for example, D.C. was majority-white.In 1970, African Americans accounted for 71 percent of the city's population. It is very apparent that the population and more importantly the demographic make up of "Chocolate City" is again changing.

So what does this mean that this vast majority of black Washingtonians are no longer prevalent in the District? These changes have led to redrawing of ward lines, opportunity for new political representation, gentrification, families unable to afford their homes and lower crime rates. Many of these changes started under the mayoral offices of Tony Williams and Adrian Fenty whom brought Target to Columbia Heights, baseball back to Washington and Starbucks on every corner.We are seeing this change occurring right in front of our eyes everyday.

This weekend it was brought to my attention again when I met a women who works for radio one. We were talking about some of the most popular radio stations in the DC area. She stated the most popular station is 99.5. I was surprised to hear that because it is my least favorite station with their tradition of overplaying pop songs and hyping up popular stars and not playing a variety of music or introducing new artists.This woman went on to tell me that another popular station 95.5 is attempting to follow suite of 99.5 and is transforming into a more pop station. To make this transition they have removed popular black MCs Big Tigger and Free who both were formerly hosts on BET. Both of these individuals were replaced on their 95.5 morning show within the past two years.Another station trying to keep up with growing audience is 94.7 who advertises "all the hit songs without the rap." And they are serious about that. When a pop song contains rap, 94.7 will cut the rap out of the song. All of these efforts are being made to satisfy and meet the needs of the growing target audience in the area.


So who has the most to gain, and lose, over the next ten years as these changes continue? What will DC look like in that time? How long will it take for local politics to catch up? Are these changes just the natural ebbs and flow of culture or is this revitalization more purposeful and pushing black Washingtonians out of the city?


--Krystal

Environmental Film Festival 2013

The DC Environmental Film Festival is on now! Hundreds of free movies and events are playing all over the District and raising awareness about important issues of environment, sustainability, and pollution globally.
I find it amazing that given the natural disasters hitting the US shores in the last 10 years that so little attention is given to environmental impact. This past election season did not touch on environmental issues and finding solutions.
There are many parts of the country desperate for clean water and energy. There are other parts of the country dealing with unusual and extreme weather patterns. This unusual weather is widespread and affects millions, yet little is being done to prevent or understand.
The earth is  an amazing, mysterious place, a giver of life as we know it. We must do more to care for this earth and prepare for future generations to inhabit this land. The film festival is eye-opening and touches on several environmental issues: from clean water to eroding soils, toxic waste to human rights issues like poverty.

Check out the calendar for some of these powerful films and start speaking out on behalf of the planet!

--Megan

The Truth is Wrapped in the Times

We all notice fads or trends that come up: whether it is fashion, food/diet, travel, or media/entertainment focused, trends circulate yearly (or even weekly!).
Magazines tell us what looks good on our bodies now, or what's good to eat, or what sorts of things we should care about. Some things that we believe are truth now, haven't always been "truth." Some truths are based on the times we are living in.
For example, studies are finding now that too much soy in your diet can be very detrimental to your health. Rewind 5 years or so, and all the trendiest diets were including soy protein substitutes--soy milk, tofu, and whatever else. Now there is a diet called "the virgin diet" saying that soy should be avoided at all costs!
The ideal body image for a woman has changed throughout history, as well. Now we say it is important for women to be toned, fit, and slim. In past centuries, women were supposed to be softer and more restful. These things are common cultural beliefs, but we believe them because we are a product of our times.
Parenting, pregnancy, and other lifestyle choices have become "performances"--where people of our culture practice the truths of our times to the fullest and discuss the details of their habits.
It is true that many healthy babies were born to mothers who smoked cigarettes or didn't eat organic foods, despite our culture telling us that these things are essential for a healthy, happy baby.
Happiness is often rooted in this, too. Our perceptions of happiness are based on what our culture tells us is truth. Palm trees are supposed to make us happy, money is supposed to make us happy. It is amazing how much of our own perceptions are based not in reality, but in what media tells us is reality, what the large mass of humanity collectively believes and agrees with.

The truths of our culture are more in line with what Stephen Colbert calls "truthiness" -- quality characterizing a "truth" that a person claims to know intuitively "from the gut" or because it "feels right" without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts.

It is important to keep this in mind when watching or reading news--they tell us what they want us to believe, and the common beliefs change with the times. 

--Megan

The Distribution of Wealth in America

I have to share this video with you all. This video was posted back in November of 2012, but really does a great job of illustrating the distribution of wealth in America and how much what we think varies from reality. After watching this I didn't even know how to respond and could only say "wow". Take a few minutes to watch the video below.

Many of us have had several conversations discussing the disparities among the rich, the poor, and the disappearing middle class, but seeing it illustrated in this fashion really brings home and is truly telling. I understand the American Dream of being able to start your own business, make a profit and hopefully prosper. I am a huge supporter of small businesses and entrepreneurs, but the America we live in today does more to stifle the American Dream than to encourage it. It really is sad and disheartening to see the separation grow and understand the difficulty of climbing to a higher economic class.

What do you think? How does watching this video make you feel? How is our capitalistic society impacted the people?

--Krystal

Is DC Too Expensive?

Rents and housing costs, bars and restaurants, gyms and yoga studios, retail, even public transportation--throughout DC these commodities are expensive. Living in choice neighborhoods near metro stations or other places of interest is expensive and ever-increasing, far more expensive than in cities like Philadelphia or Chicago. To go out for a single drink or menu item is hard to do under $10--sticker shock for newcomers and out-of-towners. These prices become just "the way it is" after awhile.  Is it worth it?

While I am often frustrated by how difficult it is to stretch a dollar in DC, I really do enjoy living here and find some advantages such as:

• jobs--there are more jobs here than in other cities in the country right now, especially for young people interested in starting careers. 
• free stuff to do--there are lots of free alternatives, if you can't afford to do anything, and you'd still be endlessly busy. With the Smithsonian museums, plenty of public parks and bike trails, and weekly performances, cultural events, and festivals to take part it, you can find ways to get by
• walking--the closer you live to amenities and entertainment, the less likely you are to need a car or even to take the metro. The rents are high, but it's a trade off between that and transportation. 

Being a "young professional" is exciting. There are many businesses, such as bars, that are catered to my age group and interest set all over the place. DC is a growing city, particularly for 20- and 30-somethings from out of town. Construction is booming, and this is a good thing; that is not the case nationwide. I think it is exciting to live in a trendy, evolving city with so much energy, and in some ways I think that out ways the terrible costs. While it can be a challenge for me to stretch my dollars enough to live this particular young lifestyle, this evolution of DC (ie gentrification) is overwhelmingly detrimental to minority groups and DC's ever growing homeless population. To this end, it is harder to see the good in the rising rents and the growing, trendy city. For me, DC might be worth it's expensive--but for long time residents with low paying jobs, it's harder to set the scales, I imagine. 

What do you think? Is DC too expensive? For you or for others?

--Megan