Shorter Patrick McIlheran: White flight was color-blind

Shorter Patrick McIlheran:

Despite the complexion of the term "white flight,"  hidden motivations of racism had absolutely nothing to do with the movement of white people to suburbs with discriminatory housing practices. Nor is there any racial element to people moving farther out today or to perceptions of crime at Mayfair Mall.

Addendum to shorter Patrick McIlheran:

Please ignore what John Gurda had to say on p. 360 of The Making of Milwaukee:

"Racism ... provided an important measure of the dark energy that carried white families to the suburbs, and it was imbedded in everything from hiring practices to housing covenants" (p. 360).

Also, please ignore how the "friendly" 'burb of Menomonee Falls responded to the creation of low-income housing (from the 5/16/99 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel):

January 1980: The Menomonee Falls Board of Trustees unanimously supports asking the federal government to cancel a proposed apartment complex for low-income families. At one heated meeting that led up to the decision, a resident tells the board, "We don't need Chicanos and everything else coming in our neighborhood." June 1982:  Arson is suspected in a blaze that damages the Menomonee Falls housing project in question in 1980.

Comments

[Bert]

Also, please conclude that the fellas holding 2x4s and tire irons at the south end of the 16th St. Viaduct in 1967 were preparing to do some carpentry and auto repair.