Here in Petersburg, Virginia, I find the history very interesting. Not just the Civil War history, although that's fascinating. But the history of the Blacks in the City.

Back when Segregation was the law of the land:

- There were Black Public Schools and White Public Schools.

- There was a section of the Public Library reserved for Blacks, in the basement, I believe.

- There was a nearby College that was for Blacks only.

The City was thriving. Manufacturing, trade in tobacco, a bustling downtown, big beautiful homes.

There were famous Civil Rights episodes here. The Library sit-in. Lunch counter sit-ins. Martin Luther King, Jr came to the city multiple times.

Look at the Black students back then.

When Segregation ended, there was "White Flight" here. Many White residents moved across the Appomattox to Chesterfield or Colonial Heights.

Practically overnight the cities racial demographic flipped, becoming something like 80/20 Black/White.

Yes, a lot of the money went away along with the "White Flight". But the manufacturing stayed. The trade stayed. Many businesses left or closed. But the infrastructure remained.

I realize there were many obstacles to overcome.

But in the 60 years from then to today, the City has atrophied. It remains 80/20, and has sunk into a deep morass.

The worst Public Schools in the State, even though they spend more per student than the much more successful surrounding localities.

High crime rate. Shootings and murders. Armed robberies. Old beautiful homes now being neglected to the point that they're falling apart. Every time I walk or drive through the city, I think "This neighborhood musta been beautiful back in the day."

A high percentage on government assistance. Poverty. So much poverty that the Schools just said "F*ck it, it's too hard to decide who actually needs it, so EVERY kid in school gets free breakfast and free lunch!"

I mean, by every single measure, the City is a mess.

Why?

Why, after six DECADES, is the City still in the dumps?

Corruption, graft, nepotism, racism in hiring, mismanagement, apathy, victimhood, a lack of ambition. I've seen all of it in the 12 years that I've now lived here.