The more things change...

The more things change ...

The more they remain the same. It is appalling, but not surprising that Chicago and many other Midwestern cities, such as Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis remain steeped in stubborn segregation in 2001, as pertains where their population -- Blacks, whites and Hispanic -- lives, according to a recent Los Angeles Times analysis.

The key factor that is keeping many neighborhoods here and in other cities across the Midwest segregated seems to be like in the 1960s and '70s when several areas were redlined -- is fear. Fear of the unknown.

Even though redlining was officially outlawed a generation ago by the 1977 federal Community Reinvestment Act, fear -- whether real or imagined -- is still an overriding factor in keeping the races separate and apart.

Witness the recent brouhaha concerning St. Sabina's entry into the white Southside Catholic Conference. Even though the predominantly Black Sabina was admitted, there is still fear among some conference members and possibly parents about traveling to what they considering the "dangerous" Auburn-Gresham neighborhood that houses Sabina. A "safety" concern, they say.

Our advice to those who continue to live isolated lives in segregated neighborhoods: Live a little. Explore. One of the few things that can counter fear is understanding and communication.

Article Copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.