Ald. Davis: Blacks use illegal drug trade for economic needs

In a statement expressing his frustration with how growth in the local economy bypasses black males in the city, Ald. Joe Davis said Friday that the illegal drug trade is the "common way" for many African-Americans to provide for their basic financial needs.

Davis, who is African-American, entitled his statement: "Divide and conquer politics stagnates Milwaukee's economy, shuts out black males." {snip}

Davis said the city's rate of economic growth involving the private sector was "pathetic." He added that that poor performance was directly related to the city's crime rate.

"We accept group homes, day cares, gas stations and corner grocery stores as a pro business growth strategy while other local economies are looking at us in the rear view mirror. I shake my head as the City of Kenosha has landed Amazon's distribution center while City of Milwaukee officials are sitting on the sidelines crying, 'What about me?' "

Davis conceded people would be offended by his statement. He continued: "The illegal drug trade is the common way in the City of Milwaukee's African American community of providing the basic financial needs of many residents, and its mere presence is creating instability that is directly related to our violent crime statistics. We fight over minuscule issues that could unite us, but we are stuck in the past of 'Divide and Conquer.' Now we want to spend $500,000 on police overtime, but fight not to invest the same amount in African American men and boys who will be the target of strict law enforcement because of our dismal local economy in their community."

Estimates vary, but academic and labor experts say the unemployment rate in the African-American community is at least 40% or perhaps higher.

I lived & worked in Milwaukee from late 1962 to early 1964.

I worked a 2nd job at night as a waitress at a popular bar that had live entertainment.

At that time, blacks were not high on the hiring list by employers because they refused to finish high school & they had a reputation of being lazy, not getting up and going to work on a steady & reliable basis. The best jobs they could get in town were probably at the breweries. I don’t know how many breweries are still in Milwaukee, but I do know that the first national ads by a company to feature blacks was Schlitz Beer.

The other large employers in Milwaukee were Falk Gear- which required talented machinists and Harley Davidson, which also required talent & reliability.

There also were a number of sausage companies, but again, you had to be reliable.

As far back as 50 years ago, Milwaukee already had a problem with graffitti and drugs. It was getting worse then, and it definately was one of the factors connected to why I left—for good.

I had a GOOD job at Shadbolt & Boyd- then the largest nut/bolt/hardware wholesale place in the Midwest. I was there when we got the news of Kennedy’s assassination and I still can see the face of my co-worker who’s wife called him with the news.

My point?

Milwaukee has had the problems of the black community for 5 decades. They cannot play games now & pretend they are just discovering it all. When the blacks find out for themselves that they are their own worst enemy, perhaps they will stay in school—get an education—and be able to actually get a job.

Meanwhile, they have lived under 50+++ years of free handouts & they understand how to game that system far better than they understand English-—cursive writing—and decent Math skills. Their birth rate to achieve more benefits under welfare, etc, only contributes to the problem at an accelerated rate.

My background? I went to a one room rural school in the Midwest—14 kids—1 teacher with 2 years of college credits—outdoor toilets & no running water. The college courses I took to advance my business skills were all passed with a 4.0 average-—while I was working full time & lots of overtime.

Cry me a river. I couldn’t escape out of the Milwaukee mess fast enough. I never looked back.

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