From the Chicago Tribune link:

At the Obama Summit, taking place on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology, Obama made clear that the white residents were not moving because of crime.

When the Robinson’s settled on Euclid, Obama had friends from all races. “There were no gang fights, there were no territorial battles. Yet one by one, they packed their bags and they ran from us. And they left communities in shambles,” with subsequent disinvestment in schools and parks.

This begs the question: why were the people who stayed in the neighborhood not equal to the task of investing in schools and parks?

Why did the whypipple always have to be responsible for those things? Couldn't the folks left behind keep the neighborhood out of "shambles"?

She's right it's not just about crime. This is really about class, not just color, you see. The tradition of moving on up to where everyone pays their share of time and money. As opposed to being a minority upper class person that puts all sorts of time and money into supporting all the poorer people in the hood, paying the way of everyone else.

It's the story of NYC and constant change in neighborhoods. In the early to mid 20th century, moving from the lower East Side tenements to the Grand Concourse in the Bronx followed by the burbs of Larchmont or Long Island where there were "better schools." And the taxes to go with them.

It's also the story of gentrification, which many more socialist types like to rail against.

The conundrum is: gentrifiers are willing to put in time and money into a devastated neighborhood filled with poor folk who do not have the same time and money (i.e., working three jobs and trying to raise kids.) And the are often pilloried for trying to make parks and better schools, taking away the local "color" as it were. Can't have it both ways. Nice stuff costs money, property tax money. People get tired of paying for everybody else and "move on up" where everyone can afford to pitch in.

Show me a person who did "white flight" and I'll show you someone who would happily live next door to Oprah or the Obamas. It's not just about race