The role of the community is
significant in its goal of achieving change and/or promoting progress. The
active participation of the community in cultural, social and economic enterprises
is important in its progress as a community. Conversely, the negative actions
of the community serve as the trigger to its own decline. One such example of
community decline and eventual melioration, based on the foundations of its
cultural, social and political activities is Newark.
The
60’s was marked by urban unrest in most cities in the United States and Newark was no exemption. The civil disorder
in Newark
started on the 14th of July to the 17th of the same month
in 1967. The violence claimed $10 million in property and 23 lives (Herman,
n.d.). The cause of the tragedy is rooted on several complex issues such as
poverty, police brutality, and political oppression.
The
City of Newark
is plays an important role in this violent event. As a community, there was no
unity. First, the predominantly black residents were under the “protection” of
the white police force. This racial division created a sense of oppression
among the black community and at the same time created a sense of superiority
among the white police force. The oppression the blacks felt lead to antagonism
and the superiority of the white police force led to abuse. The black suffered
police brutality in the hands of the white police officers.
Second,
there was also the political problem of Newark
which added to the feeling of oppression of the black community. Although the
City by that time is predominantly black, they were not represented
politically. The local black community was angered by being excluded from
political representation.
Based
on these two issues, which demonstrated the racial disunity of Newark at that
time, it can be concluded that once the community is divided, a tension will
ensue between the groups which will eventually result in a head on
confrontation wherein the whole community is bound to suffer.
Moreover,
although the riot can be considered as a result of these several factors, it
can also be surmised that the riot is one of the actions of the community. As a
result, the 6-day riot caused the City of Newark
the loss of 26 lives, millions of dollars in damage and wounded 1,100
residents. The violence and other problems in the city also caused the middle
class to move out of Newark
and move to other more desirable cities wherein there is less violence.
Nevertheless,
this one act of violence led to several improvements for the city. By showing
discontent, despite such violent protestation, the years following the incident
were major improvements. First, the mayor of Newark and other city officials were
convicted and sent to prison for corruption. The police director was also
indicted, although later on was acquitted, for not enforcing anti-gambling. By
1970, the black was finally represented and Newark had its first black mayor.
Now
with the new mayor and other black councilors, the city grew slowly. Since the
riot, the city saw economic growth, particularly in the downtown area. From
then on, the city continued to fight against poverty for years and the
population growth of the city has stabilized. The crime rate has also been
drastically reduced by about 30% (On Newark, n.d.) Other issues, such as
education, unemployment and income for household is still a struggle for the
city.
The
residents of the Newark,
led by Father Linder, a year after the riot formed the Newark New Community
Corporation (NCC). The NCC’s goal was to develop a decent, safe and attractive
housing for the community. To achieve this they instigated community
participation in the development of the new housing. With the active
participation of the community, the first housing development was opened in
1975. Family and senior citizen houses were built in the 80s and 90s. It was
able to open an extended care facility and transitional facility for the
homeless. It was also instrumental in the New Community
Neighborhood Shopping
Center. All in all, NCC took care of the
community based programs and services, health care, job training and continuing
education and community based charter school (About NCC, n.d.).
As
the city was led by its new mayor, by active residents, and with most of the
unrest slowly being erased, the community finally found unity. As the racial
divide caused the problems of the past, the racial unity enabled Newark to be one City. As
it has become united, the community, with the local government’s lead, has
started focusing its attention to its other needs and wants. Today, other
contributing factors to the development of Newark
which demonstrated how the active participation of the community is significant
in its development is seen foremost in the new cultural, sports and educational
buildings and facilities of Newark,
especially in the downtown area.
The
first thing or project that really made an impact on the development of the
community in comparison with other cities is the New Jersey Performing Arts
Center in the downtown area of Newark.
The center practically revived Newark
especially since it provided jobs to the community when it was constructed. But
more significantly, later on, was the pride it gave to the community. The
Center housed the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The community is active in its
support of the center and its hometown orchestra.
Aside
from this, the community now also has the Newark Bears as its minor league team
and with the support of the local government it has built its Riverfront
Stadium for its team. Other projects of the community are the Newark Public
Library and development of major thoroughfares and the Coast.
Works
Cited
About NCC. n.d. New Community
Corporation
Retrieved 7 March
2008
http://www.newcommunity.org/main.htm
On Newark. N.d. Pbs.org.
Retrieved 7 March
2008
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/revolution67/special_newark.html
Herman, Max PhD. The Newark and Detroit
Riot of 67. Rutgers
University
Retrieved 7 March
2008
http://www.67riots.rutgers.edu/introduction.html
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