Unless You’re From the Southside, It’s True - You Don’t Understand: Guest MINDSETTER™ Wright
Friday, May 19, 2017
I lived in South Providence for 6 years, on Broad Street to be exact. I left in 2013, but I think I understand a great deal about Wards 10 and 11.
If you're from somewhere else in Rhode Island, there's ZERO chance that you would understand what's going on here. I happened to be driving through Rhode Island this afternoon, and I listened to Dan Yorke's radio show on WPRO. I respect Dan, and I think he's very talented. That being said, I don't think South Providence is exactly in his wheelhouse. That's fine... but, in order to comment intelligently about the politics there, I think you need to understand the dynamic.
If you simply read the statistics, you would get an incomplete picture of the people who live there. You would assume that South Providence was a crime-ridden, low-income wasteland overrun by drugs and gangs. This couldn't be further from the truth. Is South Providence 88% black and Hispanic? Yes. Does South Providence have gang activity and drugs? Sure. In fact, I would submit that 90% of the violent crime on the Southside is a direct result of gang activity and the drug trade. With another, 5% accounted for by the homeless community that is much more prevalent there.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe bulk of the population is made up of hard working, honest family oriented people who simply want to make a decent living and raise their families in peace.
Now, here's where the T-shirts come in. "It's A Southside Thing, You Don't Understand."
Pretty spicy stuff, right?
It's really not that complicated. The people of South Providence are woefully underserved. The public schools are the worst in the state, in a state that has the worst schools in New England. Public services such as community pools and recreation centers are promptly closed without explanation when they are needed the most. Although I am a strong supporter of the Providence Police force, I will admit that I witnessed numerous instances of overly aggressive officers while responding to incidents in South Providence. The sum of this equation is a population that has a contempt for local and federal government.
So, here's the rub.
Drive down Broad Street, Chalkstone, or Elmwood Avenue, and you will see hundreds of family owned businesses. Hard working people who enhance the community they serve. Do they use the government services available to them? Yes. Many are on food stamps, welfare, state healthcare, and the like. Do a good number of those on government assistance obscure a portion of their income in order to qualify for assistance? Well, I will leave that up to you.
Luis Aponte has been their City Council member since 1998. He goes to their children's kindergarten, grade school, and high school graduations. He is there at every funeral of his constituents. Whether it be the 15-year-old gang member or the 98-year-old Mother who raised 8 children in his Ward. He is at the Amos House working with the homeless. Chances are if you are a lifetime resident of Ward 10, Luis Aponte has sat in your kitchen and listened to you concerns and fears. He has been your champion.
Do you think for one second that these people give a damn about the misuse of campaign funds? He made sure they had a turkey on Thanksgiving in 2004. So, when they say, "It's a Southside Thing, You Don't Understand"... In all honestly, you don't.
Jim Wright is the National Director of Catch a Rising Star Comedy Clubs. He lives in Providence.
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