Lots of people have recently come to the conclusion that the construction of highways and highway systems that were built in spite of minority communities affect our cities today. I agree with this because these highways are the route to the current traffic jams that happen in these cities. The construction of these highways relate directly to urban planning. The traffic jam in Atlanta Georgia being a prime example of this. The reasons for these traffic jams date back to when the highways were first built post civil war.
Post civil war the abolishment of slavery came about and those who were slave masters had no reason to stay around black people. This would then be the start of why there was segregation. White people forced minorities into places of lower quality and with less funding. After forcing minorities into these places contractors came up with the idea to divide the city of Atlanta segregating blacks from whites. They began building over and destroying homes to make highway systems. This caused some to have to leave their homes in support of these highways. The way these highways were constructed were in spite of black people meaning that some of these highways were built in odd ways just to separate the two races. Now going back to today the highways that were built are constructed so oddly that they have effects on traffic. This explains why traffic jams in Atlanta are so bad.
To sum things up, the highways that were built post civil war targeted black people for segregation and now those same highways are the cause of traffic jams today. This makes me wonder whether other highway systems in other cities were also built in support of the same reason and that’s why they have traffic jams also. This would make my statement true about how highways were built in spite of minority communities.
The imagery in the title was chosen as an evocative metaphor. The tangled roads and vehicles are meant to mirror the complex web of systemic inequities that have been built into our urban environments over generations. Just as a traffic jam can seem like an impossible problem on the surface, the deep-rooted racial divisions and discriminatory policies that have shaped the development of our cities can also feel daunting to unravel.
Quadir the way your picture’s disconnect from the story is intriguing, yet it compels one to pause and explore. Its charm lies in defying conventions, prompting curiosity and a desire to uncover hidden connections. This enigmatic image captivates and leaves us enthralled, eager to unravel its mysteries.
Hey Quadir, The way you go into the history of slavery and why segregation became such an important factor in the design of Atlanta’s infrastructure is quite informative. You also discuss how this building directly impacted existing black neighborhoods, which provides a different perspective to consider. Can you explain the intended significance behind the imagery in your title?
I like the bright vibrant colors of the post. I interpret the picture as a bird being free in the city of Atlanta. I agree with you in this statement “White people forced minorities into places of lower quality and with less funding. After forcing minorities into these places contractors came up with the idea to divide the city of Atlanta segregating blacks from whites.”
I was drawn in by the bright vibrant colors of the post and after reading what the author wrote, I feel like I can view the whole Traffic Jam article differently now. I feel like I have a new perspective on things
What initially drew me to this post was the colorful picture, although I can’t tell how it connects to the topic. I like how you analyzed the way traffic jams connect to segregation and intentionally displacing minority communities.
The way you delve into the history of slavery and why exactly segregation came to be such a large influence in the construction of Atlanta’s infrastructure is really insightful. You also go into detail about how this construction directly affected black communities that were already there, which provides a new perspective to think about. Can I ask what the intended meaning behind the imagery in your title is?