I came across a post on the neighborhood social feed, Next Door, lamenting yet another vehicle break-in and further lamenting that Goodyear (the town where said break-in occurred) was turning into or had become a “ghetto”.
I’ve seen variations of this post too many times to count with the author asserting that their neighborhood, street, town was “becoming a “ghetto”.
Why do I write about this? The word to me is offensive. I was born and raised on the southside of Chicago in a section that is now widely considered a ghetto. I left because I feared that my childhood home was in the middle of what had definitely become a ghetto.
A search for the word ghetto on my friend Google, returned these definitions:
- noun
- A poor urban area occupied primarily by a minority group or groups.
- What does “ghetto” mean in slang?
- “Ghetto” can be a dehumanizing insult, as in “being ghetto” which usually means behaving in a low-class manner. But other slang terms such as “ghetto fabulous” or “ghetto chic” convey a flashy glamour
- From YouTube:
- Is “ghetto” an Italian word?
- The etymology of Italian ghetto was formerly the subject of much speculation, but today there is little doubt that the word comes from the Italian dialect form ghèto, meaning “foundry.” A foundry for cannons was once located on an island that forms part of Venice, where in 1516 the Venetians restricted Jewish residence
- From Merriam-Webster:
- What is ghetto behavior?
- Answer and Explanation: In sociology, ghetto behavior refers to the patterns of behavior and responses to social issues surrounding densely populated areas of low-income households in an urban environment.
- From: Homework.study.com
- What does ghetto translate to?
- /ˈgɛtəʊ/ Ghetto means a crowded poor part of a city lived in by a specific ethnic group. The word is powerful, often associated with a rich cultural heritage or a sense of shame and a desire to escape.
As you can see, there are a plethora of ways to define the word “ghetto”. Not all of them particularly nice.
I don’t think that “ghetto neighborhoods” have private landscaping crews trimming trees and spraying for weed control. They don’t typically pay HOA fees. People who live in these neighborhoods generally have pride in their homes and surrounding areas. That doesn’t mean that unsavory elements can’t creep in and do physical damage to your property and take things that don’t belong to them – steal! Which is why that word is so distasteful to me.
We all know that words have power, and we have much to say about whether or not our neighborhoods become “ghettos”. Reporting crime to local police departments, installing security systems, locking our car and front doors (yes people in Arizona leave these things open!). Generally looking out for your neighbor and taking care of your property.
As you contemplate becoming a transplant, remember that you play a part in your neighborhood’s future and image Don’t be so quick to give up and label your place of residence as becoming a “ghetto”. Trust me, if you’ve ever lived in a true ghetto, you would know one when you see it. Goodyear, surrounding east and west suburbs should not be classified as a “ghetto”.
Let’s keep it that way!
#Transplanted