Ignoring Poor People

Why is it so easy to ignore poor people, poor neighborhoods? It was SO easy in a poor Cleveland, OH neighborhood that the stench of rotting flesh was attributed to be emanating from a meat packing plant in the area. Citizens were encouraged to complain about the easy, obvious source of the odor resulting in the business’ officials spending untold amounts of money to clean everything inside and out to get at the root cause of the odor, only to realize it persisted. A few people did suggest that the area smelled like dead bodies, but no one listened. Sheriff’s deputies were at the Anthony Sowell’s house on September 22 to do a spot check that the registered sex offender actually lived at the address. Sowell answered the door, but they didn’t enter the house. It took another month for the alleged serial killer to be arrested. To date, the bodies of 11 women have been discovered. Police expect to find more bodies.

How could this have gone on for so long? The City Councilman that represents the neighborhood stated that he should have done more to address citizen complaints. Well, duh! Would he have displayed the same laissez faire response if his constituents were affluent?

While all of the uncovered victims thus far have been black women, it’s highly likely that the same thing could have happened in a poor neighborhood of any ethnic group. Too few people speak for the poor and too many poor people expect too little.

An undertaker once told me that the smell of decaying human flesh is both unique and unforgettable. Perhaps elected officials or law enforcement personnel should take an undertaker with them when their constituents complain of a persistent bad odor. It might alert them that something is amiss.